"L  I  B  R.AR.Y 

OF   THE 
U  N  I  VER.S  ITY 
or    ILLINOIS 

977.35a 


I^t.  \4vsto>f^  SovvJey 


/ 


-y 


Joseph    Stevens. 


THE     FIRST    SETTLER     OF     MACON     COUNTY. 

[NOW  LIVING.] 


HISTO  RY 


OF 


Macon  County, 


ILLINOIS 


FROM  ITS  ORGANIZATION  TO  1876. 


B  Y 


JOHN     W.     SMITH,    ESQ 

OF    THE    M^COX    COINTY    BAR. 


SPRINGFIELD  : 

rokkkr's  printing  house. 

187«. 


Respectfully  Dedicated 


TO  THE 


Pioneers    of    Macon    Coitnt^', 


BY    THE    author. 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter  I. — Illinois. — The  Indians;  Discovery  of  Illinois;  Its 
Settlements;  Its  Government  under  the  French,  English,  Cana- 
dians, Virginians,  United  States  Government,  Northwestern  Ter- 
ritory, Indiana  Territory,  Illinois  Territory,  and  State  Organiza- 
tion. 

Chapter  II. — ]\Iacon  County.  —  Its  Organization;  Original 
and  present  boundai-ies;  Location  of  Count}'  Seat;  Comparative 
advantages  of  County  in  location,  public  sentiment,  intelligence, 
business,  etc.;  Its  settlement:  where  made,  drawbacks,  fencing, 
speculators,  markets,  ague,  etc.,  etc. 

Chapter  III. —  County  Officer  s . — County  Commissioners'  Court; 
County  Court;  Board  of  Supervisors;  Judges  of  Circuit  Court; 
Judges  of  County  Court;  State's  Attorneys;  Masters  in  Chancery; 
Circuit  Clerks;  County  Clerks;  County  Treasurers;  Sheriffs; 
Circuit  Courts;  Character  of  first  cases;  Early  Juries;  Attorneys; 
Biographical  sketches  of  all  county  officers  from  organization  of 
the  county,  etc. 

Chapter  IV. — Record  of  the  County  in  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
Mexican  war,  and  Late  war;  Principal  engagements  each  Com- 
pany and  Regiment  participated  in;  Names  of  all  who  enlisted 
from  Macon  County,  dates  of  enlistment,  discharge,  and  if  killed 
or  wounded,  when  and  where,  etc. 

Chapter  V. — Incidents  connected  with  the  Early  History  of 
the  County;  Deep  vSnow;  Sudden  Change;  Hard  trials  and 
tribulations  of  pioneer  life;  Games;  Amusements;  Bee  Hunt- 
ing, Deer  Hunting,  etc.,  etc. 

^  ^  3    , 


^  O^^A 


xV  CONTEXTS. 


Chapter  VL — Churches  of  the  County:  Methodist,  Presby- 
terian, etc.;  When  Organized;  Respective  Pastors;  Present  con- 
dition, statistics,  etc.;  Sunday  Schools:  when  organized,  statistics, 
etc. 

Chapter  VII. — Our  Manufactures,  Improvements,  Raih-oads, 
Agriculture,  and  Present  Status  of  Each. 

Chapter  VIII. — Our  Cities,  Tov^^ns  and  Milages:  Decatur, 
Maroa,  Macon,  etc.;  Officers  of  Each. 

Chapter  IX. — Our  Educational  Interests;  Earlv  Schools;  Ye 
Olde  Schoolmaster;  Early  jVIethods  of  Teaching;  School-houses 
and  furniture;  Comparison  of  Past  and  Present  Educational 
Facilities;  School  Statistics,  etc. 

Chapter  X. — Biographical  Sketches  of  Early  Settlers  who 
came  here  prior  to  1836,  and  their  families,  up  to  the  Present 
time;  Births,  Marriages,  Deaths,  etc. 


PREFACE. 


In  the  presentation  to  the  public  of  a  History  of  Macon  county, 
the  author  feels  that  it  is  incumbent  on  him  to  make  a  few  state- 
ments, partly  by  way  of  apology,  and  partly  by  way  of  explana- 
tion. He  admits,  in  the  outstart,  that  the  work  is  by  no  means 
perfect,  for  the  expectations  of  a  remuneration  for  the  time  and 
labor  necessary  to  be  employed  in  its  preparation  have  not  been  such 
as  to  justify  him  in  devoting  the  time  requisite  for  a  more 
perfect  work.  In  fact,  the  time  and  labor  actually  expended  have 
been  such  as  the  author  could  illy  afford  to  take  from  the  business 
of  his  profession,  however  much  pleasure  it  might  have  afforded 
him  in  other  situations  in  life.  The  necessity  of  an  accurate  and 
authentic  History  of  Macon  County,  from  the  organization  to  the 
present  time,  no  one  will  probably  deny.  Fifty  years  hence  that 
demand  will  be  much  more  keenly  felt.  This  being  the  Centen- 
nial year  of  the  nation's  history,  a  somewhat  general  interest  has 
pervaded  the  public  mind  in  reference  thereto,  which  has  awakened 
a  kindred  feeling,  to  some  extent,  regarding  our  more  local  affairs. 
In  the  Eastern  States  many  counties,  cities,  towns,  and  even  fami- 
lies, have  their  histories  in  book  form,  which  are  kept  complete, 
and  to  which  the  interested  turn  with  pride  and  satisfaction. 
Though  over  half  a  century  has  passed  since  the  earliest  settle- 
ments were  made  within  the  present  limits  of  the  county,  scarcely 


VI  PREFACE. 


a   page   has   ever  been   written    and   embodied   in    book   form,  by 
which  might  be  preserved,  to  some  extent  at  least,  the  trials  and 
incidents  connected  with   Macon  county  pioneer  life.     It  is  already 
too  late  to  make  a  complete  and    authentic  record  of  these  events. 
Many     of     the     early    settlers     have     long    since     passed     away. 
Many  others  have  moved  to  other    localities,  and  thence   to  still 
others,  and  all  trace  of  them  is  lost.     The  first  settler,  now  livinsr 
within  the  county,  and   whose  portrait   forms   the  frontispiece   of 
this  work,  is  almost  on  the  verge  of  the  grave.     His  physical  and 
mental  organizations  are  enfeebled,  insomuch  that  he  is  unable  to 
give  an  accurate  account  of  his  own  family.     The  second  settler  in 
order,  who  purchased  the  first  tract  of  land  in  the  present  limits  of 
the  county,  has  just  removed  to  Kansas,  leaving  but  one  male  rep- 
resentative of  his  family  behind  him.     On  the  county  records  are 
found  names  of  persons  who  participated  in  the  early  affairs  of  the 
county,  of  whom,  after  diligent  inquiry,  absolutely  nothing  can  be 
ascertained.       In  the  preparation   of  the  family  history  of   many 
of  the  pioneers,  much  difficulty  has  been  experienced.     Much  of 
the  information  obtained  in  this  regard  is  inaccurate;  and  especially 
so  in  reference  to  dates.     Many  large  and  influential  families  have 
been  met  with  that  have  no  written  family  record  of  the  births, 
deaths  and  marriages  of  their  individual  members.     Many  others 
who  were  here,  and  took  part  in   the  scenes  and  prominent  inci- 
dents connected  with   the  early  development  of   the  county,  can 
give  from  memory  no  accurate  information  as  to  dates.     They  may 
remember  that  the  particular  object  of  inquiry  took  place  a  few 
years  before,  or  a  few  years  after,  the  "  deep  snow,  "  but  when 
that  was,  to  save  their  lives  they  cannot  tell. 

Yet,  with  the  materials  at  command,  the  author  has  endeavored, 
as  near  as  possible,  to  be  accurate.  It  is  hoped  that  all  matter 
herein  contained,  from  the  county  and  city  records,  will  be  found 
substantially  correct.  The  record  of  those  who  participated  in  the 
Black  Hawk  and  Mexican  wars  has  been  taken   from  the  muster 


PREFACE.  Vll 


rolls,  and,  of  course,  is  reliable.  The  history  of  the  participants 
in  the  late  war,  in  which  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  give  the 
dates  of  enlistment,  death,  discharge,  mustering  out,  etc.,  of 
those  who  enlisted  from  Macon  county,  has  been  taken  from  the 
Adjutant  General's  reports,  and  verified,  as  far  as  possible,  by  the 
recollection  of  members  of  the  different  companies  in  the  various 
regfiments.  Of  course  no  effort  has  been  made  to  include  in  this 
work  anything  relating  to  those  who  are  now  residents,  who 
enlisted  from  other  counties  or  States,  or  of  those  who  were  then 
residents  of  this  countv,  but  were  accredited  to  other  counties  or 
States.  The  war  record  has  been  made  as  full,  complete  and 
accurate  as  possible,  so  as  to  place  in  the  hands  of  each  who  desires 
it,  the  personal  record  of  all  who  engaged  in  the  suppression  of 
the  rebellion  who  are  accredited  to  this  county.  No  tangible 
record  of  this  kind  exists,  except  the  Adjutant  General's  reports, 
and  they  constitute  eight  large  volumes,  and  are  not  suitable  or 
designed  for  general  circulation. 

That  part  of  this  book  devoted  to  incidents  connected  with  the 
early  history  of  the  county,  such  as  the  "  Deep  Snow,"  "  Sudden 
Change,"  "  Hardships  and  Trials  of  Pioneer  Life,"  etc.,  etc.,  has 
been  prepared  from  the  recollection  of  those  who  were  witnesses 
and  participants,  and  it  is  believed,  \vill  be  found,  in  the  main,  a 
faithful  portrayal,  though  by  no  means  as  exhaustive  as  it  might  be. 

The  author  acknowledges  with  gratitude  the  assistance  ren- 
dered by  many  of  the  early  settlers,  without  which  he  would  have 
failed  in  many  important  particulars.  No  effort  has  been  made, 
whatever,  at  rhetorical  embellishment;  but  on  the  contrary,  sim- 
plicity has  been  sought  to  be  attained. 

It  is  hoped,  therefore,  that  the  public  will,  to  some  extent, 
appreciate  and  lend  their  assistance  to  this,  the  first  feeble  effort 
made  to  place  in  a  permanent  form  the  early  history  of  the  county, 
and  overlook  what  imperfections  and  deficiencies  mav  be  found 
herein. 


MEMORIAL    LINES 


Hallowed  mem'ries  cluster  round 
On  the  consecrated  ground 

Where  we  tread; 
Of  the  pioneers  who  came, 
Battling  for  a  home  and  name, 

All  are  dead. 

Savage  yell,  nor  howling  storms. 
Famine's  pangs,  nor  war's  alarms. 

Drove  them  hence. 
Here  the  native  log  they  hewed; 
Here  with  strength  and  grace  imbued; 

Men  of  sense 

Gathered  'round  the  cheerful  blaze, 
Telling  tales  of  childhood's  days — 

Here  they  sat. 
With  contentment  and  hard  "  pokes," 
Here  they  told  the  old-time  jokes. 

This  and  that. 

Roughened  hand  and  sunburned  face 
Mingled  here  with  rustic  grace, 

In  the  dance: 
Gentle  grew  the  manly  tone, 
While  the  eyes  that  youthful  shone 

Looked  askance; 

And  the  eye  of  beauty  fell 

With  the  tale  which  all  must  tell, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Soon  or  late. 
Since  in  Eden  Adam  loved, 
Time  has  always  fully  proved 

'Tis  man's  fate. 

Here,  vs^ith  I'ev'rent  feet  they  trod, 
As  the  pioneer  of  God 

Read  the  Word. 
Simple  was  the  style,  and   rude. 
With  the  grace  of  being  good — 

So  they  heard. 

In  this  quiet,  lonely  spot. 
May  have  stood  a  home  forgot 

By  all  on  earth. 
Not  a  trace  of  it  to-day — 
Time  has  spirited  away 

All  its  mirth. 

In  those  quiet,  silent  graves. 
Yonder  where  the  river  laves. 

With  its  breast 
Laden  with  the  wildwood's  bloom- 
Peaceful  in  each  silent  tomb. 

Low  they  rest. 

Solemn  stillness  reigns  supreme, 
And  the  clouds  e'en  silent  seem 

In  the  skies. 
So  we  stand  with  bending:  head 
In  the  presence  of  the  dead. 

With  sad  eyes. 

As  the  breezes  glide  along. 
Whispering  an  angel's  song, 

With  hearts  moved, 
Here  all  silently  we  stand. 
Clasping  with  our  spirit  hand 

Those  we  loved. 


M.  L.  Cain. 


Decatur,  December  19,  1876. 
— 2 


CHAPTER    I. 

ILLINOIS. 

THE    INDIANS. 

No  authentic  history  of  the  successive  tribes  of  Indians  occupy- 
ing the  hmits  of  the  present  State  of  IlHnois  has  ever  been  written. 
What  vv^e  have  on  the  subject  is  largely  founded  on  tradition  and 
conjecture.  Perhaps  the  Algonquins  were  the  first  that  occupied 
that  portion  of  the  country,  as  far  back  as  we  have  any  authentic 
account.  The  Illinois  Indiafis,  or  Illinois  Confederacy^  which 
was  of  Algonquin  lineage,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century  occupied  the  country  southwest  of  Lake  Michigan,  extend- 
ing down  the  Illinois  river,  and  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  They 
were  known  as  the  "  Ulini,"  or  "  Illinois,"  and  it  is  to  them  wc 
owe  the  name  of  our  State  and  of  our  principal  river.  The  origi- 
nal signification  of  the  word  Illini  is  "  real  men,"  or  "superior 
men,"  and  of  course  is  attributable  to  the  characteristics  of  the 
Indians  bearing  that  name.  This  confederation  was  composed  of 
five  tribes:  the  Tamaroas,  Michagamies,  Kaskaskies,  Cahokies, 
and  Peorias.  Towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century  the 
Illinois  Confederation  was  driven  southward  by  a  more  hostile 
tribe  from  the  north,  and  the  greater  portion  of  their  territory 
passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Potto-jootamies.  This  nation  is 
said  to  have  been  the  greatest,  most  warlike  and  hostile  of  modern 
times,  and  extended  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  Illinois, 
Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Indiana.  The  Piankashaxvs  were  in 
possession  of  the  entire  portion  of  the  State  along  the  Wabash. 
The    Winnebagoes  —  "Having   an    ancient,   fishy    smell," —  were 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  II 


occupants  of  the  Rock  River  country.  From  tradition  we  learn 
that  this  tribe  came  from  the  west,  and  had  a  language  entirely 
dissimilar  to  all  other  tribes.  In  1763  the  Kickafoos  occwpied  the 
country  scnithwest  of  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan. 
At  a  later  day  they  emigrated  southward,  and  were  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  territory  along  the  Mackinaw  and  the  Sangamon  rivers. 
They  were  the  immediate  predecessors  of  the  white  man  on  the 
territory  of  the  present  Macon  county,  and  are  said  to  have  been 
"more  civilized,  industrious,  energetic,  and  cleanly"  than  their 
neighboring  tribes,  but  were  the  most  implacable  and  inveterate 
haters  of  the  white  people.  It  was  this  tribe  that  led  in  the  fierce 
charges  at  Tippecanoe,  and  was  conspicuous  in  many  of  the  bloodv 
hostilities  of  the  northwest.  When  they  were  finally  overcome, 
they  refused  longer  to  live  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States, 
and  removed  to  Texas,  then  a  province  of  Mexico.  The  Sacs  and 
Foxes  lived  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  State,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Rock  Island.  They  were  formerly  from  the  neighborhood  of 
Quebec,  and  were  driven  west  by  the  Iroquois,  and  took  a  con- 
spicuous part,  with  the  Pottowotamies,  in  driving  out,  and  almost 
exterminating,  the  Illinois  Confederacy.  It  was  this  tribe,  led  by 
the  great  chief  Black  Hawk,  that  waged  the  war  of  1S31-2,  known 
as  the  Black  Hawk  war.* 

THE    DISCOVERY    OF    ILLINOIS. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  1673,  Jacques  Marquette,f  a  Jesuit 
missionary,  in  company  with  M.  Joliett,  a  Quebec  merchant,  left 
the  missionary  station  at  Mackinaw  for  a  two-fold  purpose,  as 
expressed  by  Marquette :  "  My  friend,"  referring  to  Joliett,  "  is 
an  envoy  of  France,  to  discover  new  countries;  and  I  am  an  em- 
bassador of  God,  to  enlighten  them  [the  Indians]  with  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel."^  They  proceeded  to  Green  Bay,  thence  up  the 
Fox  river  and  Lake  Winnebago  to  the  Portage,  where  they  trans- 

*It  is  related  upon  the  authority  of  a  participant  in  this  war,  who  still  resides 
near  Clinton,  111.,  that  there  were  three  men  who  served  in  the  war — two  in 
the  same  regiment,  and  another  in  the  same  brigade — that  afterwards  became 
famous  in  the  history  of  the  country,  viz:  Col.  Zachary  Taylor,  Lieut.-Col. 
Jefferson  Davis,  and  Capt.  Abraham  Lincoln. 

f  James   Marquette,  as  given  by  Reynold's- 

X  Monette's  "  Valley  of  the  Mississippi." 

§  Called  by  the  Indians,  "  Peckitanoni." 


12  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

ferred  their  canoes,  a  distance  of  three  miles,  across  the  Wisconsin, 
and  thence  down  that  river  to  the  Mississippi,  which  they  discov- 
ered on  the  17th  of  June.  Thence  they  sailed  down  the  "  Father 
of  Waters,"  discovering  the  confluence  of  the  Missouri  and  Missis- 
sippi, which  Marquette  called  "  the  most  beautiful  confi:uence  of 
rivers  in  the  world."  Journeying  southward,  they  discovered  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio,  which  they  mistook  for  the  Wabash,  and  then 
to  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Memphis,  where  they  were  met 
by  the  hostile  Arkansas  Indians,  and  barely  escaped  destruction. 
On  the  lyth  of  July,  of  the  same  year,  they  commenced  ascending 
the  river,  and  on  reaching  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois,  they  were 
informed  by  the  Indians  that  it  was  much  nearer  for  their  return 
by  that  river,  and  they  changed  their  course,  and  by  so  doing, 
traversed  for  the  first  time,  by  white  men,  that  region  which  Mar- 
quette described  as  follows:  "  Nowhere  did  we  see  such  grounds, 
meadows,  woods,  stags,  buffaloes,  deer,  wildcats,  bustards,  swans, 
ducks,  paroquetts,  and  even  beavers,  as  on  the  Illinois  river."  M. 
Joliett  hastened  on  to  Canada,  to  make  his  discoveries  known  there 
and  in  France.  This  discovery  and  report||  in  France  and  Canada 
resulted  in  its  settlement. 

The  object  of  Marquette's  voyage  seems  to  have  been  two-fold : 
J^irst^tho:  christianization  of  the  Indians;  and  second,  the  discovery 
of  a  northwest  passage  to  the  East  Indies  and  China.  The  news 
of  Marquette's  discoveries  soon  reached  Canada,  and  thence  spread 
to  France,  through  w^hich,  and  in  consequence  of  the  interest 
awakened  by  these,  and  the  subsequent  discoveries  by  LaSalle  and 
Hennepin,  the  early  French  settlements  were  made  in  Illinois,  and 
the  country  passed  under  the  national  control  of  France.  M. 
Joliett  was  mainly  instrumental  in  bringing  this  newly  discovered 
country  to  the  attention  of  the  world. 

SETTLEMENT    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Between  16S0  and  1690, — perhaps  about  the  year  168S* — the 
first  settlements  in  Illinois  were  made — or  commenced  rather.  The 
first  military  occupation  of  the  country  was  at  Fort  Creve-Coeur, 
in  February,  16S0;  but  there  is  no  reliable  information  thatasettle- 
ment  was   attempted   there  until   sometime    after  ward. f     The  first 


II  By  the  capsizing  of  Joliett's  canoe  in  Lachine  Rapids,  he  lost  all  his  papers 
relating  to  the  voyage  and  discovery. 
♦Reynolds,     f  Annals  of  the  West. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1 3 

settlement  in  Illinois,  or  in  the  Mississippi  valley,  was  commenced 
by  the  building  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  on  the  Illinois  river,  in  1682  ;| 
but  it  remained  in  existence  but  a  few  years,  so  that  Kaskaskia  is 
now  regarded  as  the  first  permanent  settlement  in  Illinois. || 

Settlements  were  also  made  at  Peoria  and  Kaskaskia,  about  the 
same  time.  M.  Tonti  was  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  territory 
embraced  between  Canada  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  extending 
east  and  west  of  the  Mississippi  as  far  as  his  imagination  or  ambi- 
tion pleased  to  allow.  He  spent  twenty-one  years  in  establishing 
forts  and  organizing  the  first  settlements  of  Illinois.  On  the  14th 
of  September,  17 12,  the  French  government  granted  a  monopoly 
of  all  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the  country  to  M.  Crozat,  a 
wealthy  merchant  of  Paris,  who  established  a  trading  company  in 
Illinois,  and  it  was  by  this  means  that  the  early  settlements  became 
permanent  and  others  established.  From  the  impetus  thus  given, 
the  people  began  to  turn  their  attention  to  agricultural  and  commer- 
cial pursuits.  The  marvelous  development  of  the  State  in  popula- 
tion, improvement  and  wealth  would  be  a  theme  upon  which  we 
could  dwell  with  pleasure,  but  space,  in  this  connection,  forbids 
further  mention. 

ITS    GOVERNMENT. 

In  1717,  M.  Crozat,  heretofore  mentioned,  surrendered  his  char- 
ter, and  the  Company  of  the  West  was  organized,  to  "  aid  and 
assist"  the  banking  system  of  John  Law.  Under  this  company  a 
commandant  and  secretary  were  sent  to  Illinois,  which  constituted 
its  first  organized  government.  A  branch  of  this  company,  called 
the  Company  of  St.  Philip's,  was  soon  afterwards  organized  for 
the  express  purpose  of  working  the  rich  silver  mines  supposed  to  be 
in  Illinois,  and  Philip  Francis  Renault  w^as  appointed  as  its  agent. 
In  1 7 19  he  sailed  from  France  with  two  hundred  miners,  laborers 
and  mechanics,  which  was  the  greatest  acquisition  to  Illinois  yet 
made.§  During  17 19  the  Company  of  the  West  was,  by,  royal 
order,  united  with  the  "  Royal  Company  of  the  Indies,"  but  the 
charter  was  not  surrendered  until  1732,  when  Illinois  became  a  part 

|Bancroft.     ||  Bancroft. 

i^Renault  purchased  in  the  West  Indies,  en  route  to  Illinois,  five  hundred 
negro  slaves  to  work  in  his  expected  mines.  This  was  the  introduction  of 
slavery  in  Illinois. 


\ 


14  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY. 

of  the  Royal  Government  of  Quebec,  with  D'  Artaquette^  as  its 
local  Governor.  La  Buissonierre  was  appointed  his  successor,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Chevalier  McCarty,  who  remained  Governor 
until  a  short  time  previous  to  the  cession  of  New  France  to  Eng- 
land, in  1763,  at  which  time  M.  St.  Ange  de  Belle  Rive  was 
appointed  Governor,  and  remained  until  1765,  when  Capt.  Sterling 
took  possession  under  the  treaty  of  two  years  previous.  Frazier, 
Reed,  Wilkins,  Rocheflave,  and  perhaps  others,  were  successive 
Governors.  On  the  4th  of  July,  1778,  Kaskaskia  was  captured  by 
Col.  Clark,  in  pursuance  of  a  plan  matured  by  Patrick  Henry 
(then  Governor  of  Virginia),  Thomas  Jefferson,  George  Wyth  and 
George  Mason,  in  January  previous.  In  a  short  time  thereafter 
the  county  of  Illinois  was  created  by  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 
It  included  Ohio,  Indiana,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan.  John 
Todd*  was  made  commander  of  Illinois,  and  in  1779  he  organized 
courts  and  established  a  government.  Timothy  De  Mountebrun 
was  his  successor.  In  1784  Illinois  was  ceded  to  the  United  States 
by  Virginia,  and  in  17S7  Congress  passed  an  ordinance  for  the 
government  of  the  new  territory — called  the  Northwest  Territory 
— and  Arthur  St.  Clair  was  appointed  Governor,  who  continued  in 
office  until  1S02.  In  that  year  Indiana  Territoiy  was  formed,  which 
included  the  present  terrritory  of  Illinois,  and  William  H.  Harrison 
was  appointed  Governor.  In  the  General  Assembly  of  the  new 
territory,  in  1808,  Jesse  B.  Thomas  was  elected  as  a  delegate  to 
Congress,  and  was  instructed  to  obtain  a  division  of  the  territory ; 
and  on  the  23d  of  February,  1S09,  the  Territory  of  Illinois  was 
established,  which  extended  on  the  north  to  the  British  possessions. 
A  territorial  government  was  organized,  and  Ninian  Edwards  was 
appointed  Governor  (through  the  solicitation  of  Henry  Clay), 
Nathaniel  Pope,  Secretary,  and  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  William  Sprigg, 
and  Alexander  Stuart,  Judges,  by  President  James  Madison.  The 
Governor   appointed  John  J.  CrittendenJ<  x\ttorney   General,  who 

^This  gallant  and  fearless  man  was,  on  May  20,  17^6,  dangerously  wounded 
in  an  engagement  between  the  French  and  Chickasaw  Indians,  near  the  source 
of  the  Tallahatchie  river,  in  Mississippi,  and  was  taken  prisoner,  and  after- 
wards tortured  and  burned  at  the  stake. 

♦Killed  at  Blue  Lick,  Kentucky,  August  iS,  1782. 

§He  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  afterwards  became  famous  in  Kentucky  and 
national  history. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


15 


was  in  a  short  time  succeeded  by  his  brother,  William  P.  Critten- 
den. In  18 1 8  a  petition  was  prepared  by  the  territorial  legislature, 
petitioning  Congress  for  admission  into  the  Union.  On  April 
iSth  the  Enabling  Act  was  approved,  and  in  July  following  the 
Constitution  was  signed,  and  Shadrach  Bond  was  elected  Govenor; 
and  on  the  3d  of  December,  1818,  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the 
Union. 


COLUMBIA'S    REVIEW. 


I  see  the  nations  gathering  to  my  hundreth  jubilee, 

And  hear  their  loud  hosannahs  on  the  welkin  of  the  free. 

Outspread  before  me  lie  the  trophies  of  a  hundred  years, 
By  wisdom  won,  by  toil,  by  sacrificial  blood  and  tears. 

Behold  this  magic  enginery,  -which  with  all  curious  art, 
Fills  full  the  lap  of  luxury  in  every  merchant  mart. 

Here  are  my  sacred  battle-fiags,  blood-reddened,  rent  and  torn. 
Amid  the  death  and  carnage  on  a  hundred  fields  upborne. 

The  curse  of  slavery  gone — its  stain  expunged  by  fiery  flood. 
And  all  its  wounds  healed  in  the  balsam  of  the  nation's  blood. 

And  shall  the  nation  live? — born  of  the  struggling  past  in  pain, 
Yet  mightly  as  Olympian  Jove,  or  Neptune  of  the  Main. 

The  glad  fruition  of  all  hope,  the  answer  of  all  prayer, 

The  pledge  of  equal  rights,  and  freedom's  earnest  everywhere. 

Unyielding,  stern,  she  yet  shall  stand — all  time's  assault  defy; 
And  at  her  feet  shall  Treason  quail,  and  Fraud,  despairing,  die. 

The  nation,  from  its  perils  passed,  a  stronger  life  shall  draw. 
And  justice,  undismayed,  assert  the  majesty  of  law. 

The  rushing  of  each  headlight,  and  the  rocking  of  each  fleet. 
Are  but  the  pulse  of  commerce  beating  strong  beneath  my  feet. 

Oh!  how  my  spirit  sti-engthens  with  the  marching  of  the  years. 
As,  promise-crowned,  the  future  beckons,  while  the  century  disap- 
pears ! 

A.  J.  Wallace. 
Decatur,  111.,  Dec.  75,  i8j6. 


CH  AP  TER    II. 

MACON    COUNTY. 

ITS    ORGANIZATION. 

Previous  to  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  in  1S29,  Benjamin 
R.  Austin,  Andrew  W.  Smith,  and  John  Ward,  had  been  selected 
to  go  to  Vandalia,  then  capital  of  the  State,  and  procure  the  pass- 
age of  an  act  dividing  the  county  of  Shelby,  of  which  the  present 
county  of  Macon  then  formed  a  part,  and  forming  a  new  county  of 
the  territory  thus  detached.  They  were  successful;  and  at  that 
session  the  following  act  was  approved  establishing  the  county  of 
Macon.* 


*NoTE. — Macon  county  derived  its  name  from  Hon.  Nathaniel  Macon,  of 
North  Carolina,  whose  fame,  at  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  county 
extended  throughout  the  nation.  He  was  born  in  Warren  county,  N.  C,  in 
1757.  and  died  in  the  same  county,  June  29tk,  1837.  He  was  educated  at 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  was  there  at  the  opening  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
In  1777  he  left  college,  and  served  for  a  short  time  as  a  private  in  a  company 
of  volunteers.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law,  but  soon  re-enlisted  in  the  army  under  his  brother  John.  He 
continued  in  the  service  until  peace  was  declared.  He  was  present  at  the  fall 
of  Charleston.  For  all  his  arduous  services  in  the  war,  he  steadily  refused 
compensation,  nor  would  he  accept  a  pension  after  the  government  had  pro- 
vided one.  Before  he  left  the  army  he  had  been  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  in 
which  he  served  until  1785.  When  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was 
proposed,  he,  like  Patrick  Henry,  thought  it  "  squinted  too  much  in  the  direc- 
tion of  monarchy,"  and  therefore  opposed  its  adoption.  He  thought  the  gen- 
eral government  proposed  was  too  independent  of  the  States.  Mr.  Macon  was 
elected  to  the  lower  house  of  Congress  in  1791,  where  he  continued  to  serve 
until  181 5,  serving  as  Speaker  from  1801  to  1806.  From  the  lower  house  he 
was  transferred  to  the    U.  S.  Senate,  in    1816,  where   he  remained  until  1828, 

—3 


l8  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

"AN     ACT    TO    ESTABLISH    A    NEW    COUNTY    TO     BE     CALLED     THE 

COUNTY  OF  MACON. 

"Section  i.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  -people  of  the  State  of  Illinois^ 
represented  in  the  General  Assembly^  That  all  that  tract  of  coun- 
try lying  within  the  following  bounderies,  to-wit:  beginning  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  numbered  eighteen,  in  township  num- 
bered fourteen  north,  of  range  numbered  one  east  of  the  third 
principal  meridian;  thence  due  north  with  the  said  thiid  principal 
meridian  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  township  nvunbered 
twenty  north,  of  range  numbered  one  east;  thence  due  east  with 
the  line  between  townships  numbered  twenty  and  twenty-one 
north,  to  the  northeast  corner  of  township  numbered  twenty  north, 
of  range  numbered  six  east;  thence  due  south  with  the  line  between 
ranges  numbered  six  and  seven  east,  to  the  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion numbered  thirteen,  in  township  number  fourteen  north,  of 
range  numbered  six  east;  and  from  thence  due  west  along  through 
the  middle  of  townships  numbered  fourteen  north,  to  the  place  of 
beginning,  shall  constitute  a  county,  to  be  called  the  county  of 
Macon;  and  the  seat  of  justice  therein,  when  located,  shall  be 
called  the  town  of  Decatur. 

"  Sec.  2.  For  the  purpose  of  locating  the  seat  of  justice  of  the 
said  county  of  Macon,  the  following  named  persons  are  appointed 
Commissioners,  to-wit:  John  Fleming,  Jesse  Rhodes  and  Easton 
Whitton,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  meet  at  the  house  of  James 
Ward,  in  said  county,  on  the  first  Monday  in  April  next,  or  within 
ten  days  thereafter,  and  after  being  duly  sworn  before  some  justice 
of  the  peace  of  this  State,  faithfully  and  impartially  to  discharge 
the  duties  imposed  upon  them  by  this  act,  shall  proceed  to  deter- 
mine upon  a  place  for  the  location  of  the  said  seat  of  justice,  having 

and  was  President /r<?  tetn.  of  that  body  in  1825-7.  He  was  thirty-seven  years 
in  Congress,  uninterruptedly  —  the  longest  continuous  service  of  any  one 
man.*  Twice  during  Jefferson's  administration  he  declined  the  office  of  Post- 
master General.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  had  an  earnest  convic- 
tion in  the  ability  of  the  people  for  self-government.  Jefferson  said  he  was 
"  the  last  of  the  old  Romans,"  and  Randolph  called  him  "the  wisest  man  he 
ever  knew."  In  his  temperment  he  was  a  stoic,  disregarding  style  and  con- 
ventionalties,  and  in  all  things  practiced  the  strictest  economy. 


*American  Encycloptedia. 


HISTOKY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1 9 


due  regard  to  the  situation  of  the  settlements,  the  convenience  of 
the  people,  and  the  future  population  of  said  county. 

"  Sec.  3.  The  said  Commissioners  are  hereby  authorized  to 
locate  the  said  seat  of  justice  on  the  land  of  any  person  or  persons, 
who  may  be  the  fee  simple  owners  thereof,  if  the  proprietor  or 
proprietors  of  such  land  shall  donate  and  convey,  with  covenants 
of  general  warranty,  to  the  County  Commissioners,  for  the  use  of 
said  county,  a  quantity  of  land  not  less  than  twenty  acres,  in  a 
square  or  oblong  form,  upon  which  to  erect  the  public  buildings; 
or  otherwise,  the  said  Commissioners  may,  in  their  discretion, 
locate  the  said  seat  of  justice  on  any  of  the  public  lands  in  said  county, 
as  may  seem  to  be  the  most  advantageous  to  the  future  interest  of 
said  county. 

"  Sec.  4.  As  soon  as  said  service  shall  be  performed,  the  said 
Commissioners  shall  make  a  report  of  their  proceedings,  under 
their  proper  hands  and  seals,  to  the  first  County  Commissioners' 
Court,  to  be  held  for  and  in  said  county,  designating  particularly 
the  place  selected,  and  a  description  of  the  same.  And  if  the  situ- 
uation  on  the  public  lands  shall  be  preferred,  after  examination  as 
aforesaid,  the  half  quarter  or  quarter  section  of  land  upon  which 
the  same  may  be  located  shall  be  stated  in  said  report;  and  in  that 
event,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  County  Commissioners,  as 
soon  thereafter  as  they  may  be  enabled,  to  enter  and  purchase  the 
same,  at  the  proper  land  office,  in  their  respective  names,  as  County 
Commissioners,  for  the  use  of  the  county  of  Macon;  all  of  which 
said  proceedings  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  shall  cause  to 
be  entered  at  large  on  their  books  of  record. 

"  Sec.  5.  As  soon  as  a  suitable  site  shall  have  been  selected  for 
the  seat  of  justice,  and  a  report  made  thereof,  as  aforesaid,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  County  Commissioners  to  cause  such  donation, 
or  tract  of  land  (if  public  land  should  be  selected),  or  so  much 
thereof  as  they  may  deem  advisable,  to  be  laid  off  into  lots,  and  be 
sold  upon  such  terms  and  conditions  as  may  be  considered  most 
advantageous  to  the  interests  of  the  county,  and  the  proceeds  of 
such  sales  shall  be  applied  to  the  erection  of  a  court  house  and  jail, 
and  such  other  public  works  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  use  of 
said  county.  And  as  often  as  any  lots  shall  be  sold  as  aforesaid,  it 
shall  be  the  further  duty  of  said  County  Commissioners  to  make 
conveyances  for  the  same  to  the  purchasers  thereof,  in  their  own 
names,  as  Commissioners  for  and  in  behalf  of  said  county. 


30  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY, 

"  Sec.  6.  Until  public  buildings  shall  be  erected  for  the  pur- 
pose, the  courts  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  James  Ward,  in  said 
county. 

"  Sec.  7.  An  election  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  James 
Ward,  on  the  second  Monday  of  April  next,  for  one  Sheriff,  one 
Coroner  and  three  County  Commissioners,  for  said  county,  who 
shall  hold  their  offices,  respectively,  until  the  next  general  election, 
and  until  their  successors  are  qualified ;  which  said  election  shall  bg 
conducted  in  all  respects  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the  law 
regulating  elections:  Provided^  that  the  qualified  voters  present 
may  elect  from  among  their  number  three  qualified  voters  to  act  as 
judges  of  said  election,  who  shall  appoint  two  qualified  voters  to 
act  as  clerks. 

Sec.  8.  It  shall  be  the  dut}-  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
who  mav  be  appointed  for  such  county,  to  give  public  notice,  at 
least  fifteen  davs  previous  to  said  election,  of  the  time  and  place, 
when  and  where  the  same  will  be  held,  and  the  officers  to  be  elect- 
ed thereat;  and  in  case  there  should  be  no  clerk,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  recorder,  or  any  justice  of  the  peace  residing  within 
the  limits  of  said  countv,  to  give  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of 
holding  the  same  as  aforesaid. 

"  Sec.  9.  The  Commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the  seat  of 
justice,  as  aforesaid,  shall  receive  the  suin  of  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  per  day  for  each  day  by  them  necessarily  consumed  in  dis- 
charging the  duties  imposed  upon  them  by  this  act,  to  be  allowed 
by  the  County  CommissioneiV  Court,  and  paid  out  of  the  treasury 
of  said  county. 

"  Sec.  10.  Until  the  next  apportionment  of  members  of  the 
General  Assembly  shall  be  made,  said  county  of  Macon  shall  vote 
with  the  counties  of  Fayette,  Bond,  Montgomery,  Shelby  and 
Tazewell;  and  the  clerk  of  the  said  county  of  Macon  shall  meet 
the  clerks  of  the  said  counties  of  Fayette,  Bond,  Montgomery, 
Shelby  and  Tazewell,  at  Vandalia,  the  seat  of  justice  of  Fayette 
county,  to  compare  the  number  of  votes  given  for  Senator  and 
Representatives  to  the  General  Assembl)',  and  sign  the  necessary 
certificate  of  electipn,  at  Vandalia,  and  deliver  the  same  to  the  per- 
son or  persons  entitled  thereto. 

"Sec  II.  The  said  county  of  Macon  shall  be  and  is  hereby 
attached  to  the  first  judicial  circuit. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  21 


"  This  Act  to  take  effect  from  aiid  after  its  passage." 
Approved  January  19,  1829. 

It  will  be  observed  by  the  foregoing  act  that  the  county,  so  formed, 
was  much  larger  than  it  is  at  present.     It  then  included  all  of  what 
is  now  DeWitt  county,  except  the  northern  tier   of  townships;  all 
of  Piatt  county,  except  one  township,  and  about  half  of  Moultrie 
county.     On  the  first  of  March,  1S39,  DeWitt  county  was  formed, 
establishing  the  northern  line  of  this  county  where  it  now^  is.     On 
the  following  day  an  act  was  passed  adding  to  the  county  of  Macon 
that  portion  now  known  as  Niantic  township.     It  may  be  remarked, 
in  this  connection,  that  the  formation  of  DeWitt,  and  the  losing  of 
that  much  territory  to  this  county,  was  a  source  of  but   little  con- 
cern  to  our   people.     In   fact,  at   the  time   it  was  urged  that  the 
southern    line   of   DeWitt  should   be   extended   far   enousfh    south 
to  include  the  present  towns  of  Maroa,  Austin  and  Friends  Creek. 
This  tract   of  land,  now  rich,  highly  productive,  and   as  finely  im- 
proved as  any  other   portion  of  the  county,  was  then  considered  a 
burden,  and  not  desired  by  Macon,  and  not  wanted  by  DeWitt.     It 
was  not  thought  possible  to  cultivate  the  soil,  or  that  it  would  ever 
be  inhabited ;  and  the  expense  of  keeping  up  roads  through  it  was 
considered  to  be  largely  in  excess  of  the  income  to  be  derived.     At 
that  day  there  were  but  few  people  who  dreamed  even  of  the  large 
prairies  becoming  settled  and  put  into  cultivation.     The  most  that 
was  claimed  was  that  the  farms  would  extend  but  a  short  distance 
from  the  timber,  and  the  prairies  remain  forever  wild,  and  used  for 
grazing  purposes  only.     Many  of  the  early  settlers  made  "  clear- 
ings," and  started  their  little  farms  in  the  timber,  as  they  had  been 
accustomed  to  do  in  the  States   from   which  they  came.     It  is  not 
strange,  however,  that  the  opinion  was  entertained   that  much  of 
the   prairie   land   ^vas  absolutely  useless   and  valueless,  for  at  that 
period,  for  the  greater   portion  of  the  year,  they  were  almost  sub- 
merged with  water.     Horses  and   cattle  would  mire   on  land  now 
considered  dry,  and  forming  some  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county. 
It  is  asserted  by  some  of  our  then  residents  of  the  county,  that  the 
object  of  securing  the  addition  to  the  county  of  the  present  Niantic 
township,   was  to    prevent  the   removal  of  the   county   seat  Irom 
Decatur  to  a  little  town  then  just  commenced  in  the  township  of 
Friends  Creek,  called  Murfreesboro.     It  will  be  remembered  that 
Piatt   county  was  then  a  part  of  Macon,   and   the  proposed  new 


23  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

county  seat,  being  nearer  the  center  of  the  county  than  Decatur, 
may  have  actuated  Mr.  Gouge,  who  was  then  our  representative  in 
the  legislature,  in  procuring  this  addition  to  our  western  territory. 
The  assertion,  however,  that  any  such  notions  were  entertained  as 
to  the  proposed  change  in  the  county  seat,  is  denied  by  others  who 
were  residents  at  the  time.  It  is  very  probable,  however,  that 
there  was  a  change  of  the  "  seat  of  justice "  anticipated,  for  the 
Niantic  territory  was  considered  worthless,  except  as  so  much  bal- 
last to  counterbalance  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county.  And  the 
prospects  of  Murfreesboro,  it  seems,  were  blighted  about  that  time, 
and  it  has  long  since  ceased  to  be,  except  in  the  recollection  of  a 
very  few  of  our  oldest  residents. 

In  January,i84i,  Piatt  county  was  formed  from  portions  of  DeWitt 
and  Macon  counties,  and  in  February,  1843,  the  county  of  Moul- 
trie was  formed  from  portions  of  Shelby  and  Macon  counties,  each 
by  acts  of  the  legislature.  Macon  county  now  remains  as  left  after 
the  passage  of- the  last  act,  forming  Moultrie  county.  It  now  con- 
tains an  area  of  five  hundred  and  seventy-seven  square  miles,  or 
369,280  acres. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  by  virtue  of  the  foregoing  act, 
met  on  the  tenth  day  of  April,  1S29,  and  proceeded  to  view  the 
several  proposed  locations  for  a  "seat  of  justice;"  and  as  a  result 
of  their  deliberation,  made  the  following  report,  as  appears  by  the 
recoi-d  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court: 

"  We,  the  Commissioners  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  locating 
the  seat  of  justice  for  Macon  county,  after  being  duly  sworn  before 
John  Miller,  an  acting  justice  of  the  peace  for  said  county  of 
Macon,  having  carefully  and  impartially  viewed  and  examined  the 
situation  and  convenience,  likewise  the  advantages,  of  the  present 
and  future  population,  have  located  the  said  seat  on,  the  fifteenth 
section  in  township  sixteen  north,  in  range  two  east,  northeast 
quarter  and  east  half  of  said  quarter,  the  southeast  corner  of  said 
above-named  half  quarter,  in  compliance  to  an  act  of  the  General 
Assembly  requiring  us  so  to  act.  Approved  January  19,  1829. 
Whereunto  we  have  set  our  hands  and  seals  this  tenth  day  of 
April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1829. 

"John  Fleming,  [Seal.-] 

"Jesse  Rhodes,  [Seal.] 

"  Easton  Whitton."     [Seal.] 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


23 


When  the  site  had  been  selected,  as  referred  to  in  the  above 
report,  an  order  was  made  on  the  first  day  of  June,  1829,  by  the 
County  Commissioners,  directing  the  "laying  off"  of  the  town  of 
Decatur,  as  follows : 

"  Ordered.,  That  Benjamin  R.  Austin,  County  Surveyor  for  the 
county  of  Macon,  be  and  is  hereby  required  to  lay  off  the  town  of 
Decatur,  in  said  county,  after  the  form  of  Shelbyville,  and  make 
and  return  to  one  of  the  commissioners  of  this  court,  a  complete 
plat  of  the  same  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July  next." 

Under  the  above  order  the  "  old  town  "  of  Decatur  was  laid  out 
and  platted,  which  contained  twenty  acres.  Its  boundaries  were : 
Prairie  street  on  the  north.  Water  street  on  the  east,  Wood  street 
on  the  south,  and  Church  street  on  the  west,  and  was  divided  by 
Main  street,  running  east  and  west,  and  by  North  Main  street,  run- 
ning north  and  south.  The  "  old  town  "  remains  substantially  as 
platted,  "  after  the  form  of  Shelbyville,"  with  the  exception  that 
Merchant  street  has  been  formed  since,  and  some  of  the  lots  are 
divided  so  as  to  run  north  and  south  instead  of  east  and  west,  as 
laid  out. 

By  the  act  creating  this  county,  the  land  upon  which  the  Com- 
missioners located  the  "  seat  of  justice  "  was  to  be  donated  to  the 
county.  The  land  on  which  the  county  seat  was  located  had  not, 
in  fact,  been  entered  from  the  government  at  the  time,  but  was 
afterwards  entered  by  Parmenius  Smallwood,  Easton  Whitton 
and  Charles  Prentice,  and  a  deed  was  by  them  made  to  the  County 
Commissioners,  on  the  eighth  day  of  October,  1831. 

A  sale  of  town  lots,  however,  had  been  made  by  the  County 
Commissioners  on  the  tenth  day  of  July,  1829,  and  bonds  given  to 
the  purchasers. 

The  order  of  the  Commissioners,  under  which  this  sale  was 
made,  is  as  follows : 

'■'Ordered.,  That  a  sale  of  lots  take  place  in  the  town  of  Decatur, 
in  this  county,  on  the  tenth  day  of  July  next,  on  the  following 
terms,  to-wit:  A  credit  of  twelve  months  will  be  given,  and  note 
with  approved  security  will  be  required,  and  that  the  clerk  of  this 
court  is  required  to  advertise  the  sale  in  the  paper  printed  in 
Vandalia,  until  the  day  of  sale." 

The  following  order  was  also  made,  which  we  insert,  showing 
the  rate  of  taxation  and  the  articles  of  property  to  be  assessed : 


24  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

'''•Ordered^  That  for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  I'evenue  to  defray 
expenses  of  the  county  for  the  year  1829,  that  a  tax  of  one-half  per 
cent,  be  levied  upon  the  following  personal  jDroperty,  to-wit :  On 
slaves  and  indentured  or  registered  negro  or  mulatto  servants;  on 
pleasure  carriages;  on  distilleries;  on  stock  in  trade;  on  all  horses, 
mares,  mules  or  asses,  and  neat  cattle  over  three  years  old ;  and 
on  watches,  with  their  appendages,  and  on  all  other  personal  prop- 
erty except  the  lawful  fire-arms  of  each  individual." 

This  tax,  when  collected,  amounted  to  the  sum  of  $109,331^. 

At  the  same  term  of  Court,  the  tavern  rates  were  also  fixed  as 
follows : 

'•'•Ordered^  That  the  tavern  rates  for  this  county  shall  hereafter 
be  as  follows,  to-wit:  For  breakfast  and  horse  fed,  37^  cents; 
keeping  man  and  horse  each  night  (the  man  to  have  supper  and 
lodging),  621^  cents;  dinner  and  horse  fed,  37^  cents;  brandy, 
rum,  gin,  wine  or  cordial,  35  cents  per  half  pint;  whisky,  or  cider 
brandy,  12^  cents  per  half  pint." 

This  was  also  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  county  expenses : 
No  person  was  allowed  to  go  into  any  sort  of  merchandising  busi- 
ness without  a  license  "  first  had  and  obtained  "  from  the  County 
Commissioners,  for  which  a  fee  of  from  three  to  five  dollars  was 
charged.  Ferries  were  established  on  the  river,  and  license  granted, 
and  the  rates  of  ferriage  fixed  by  the  court. 

In  connection  with  the  organization  of  the  county,  a  few  things 
may  be  said  in  reference  to  its  location,  character  of  population, 
and  commanding  influence  with  reference  to  neighboring  counties, 
etc.  It  is  the  geographical  centre  of  the  State — east  and  west, 
north  and  south.  Its  entire  area  is  within  the  great  corn-growing 
belt  of  Illinois,  and  it  possesses  a  soil  unsurpassed  in  rich  and  pro- 
ductive qualities.  There  is  not  an  acre  of  it,  scarcely,  that  is  not 
susceptible  of  cultivation.  Its  population,  composed,  as  it  is,  of 
emigrants  from  the  east  and  south,  in  about  an  equal  proportion, 
is  a  modification  of  the  temperaments  and  sentiments  of  the  two 
sections,  possessing  the  extremes  of  neither.  Politically,  it  has 
been  Whig,  Democratic  and  Republican,  and  never  either  way  by 
a  large  majority.  A  just  estimate  of  the  political  sentiment  of 
Macon  county  has  always  been,  almost  without  an  exception,  a 
true    criterion  of  the  sentiment  of  the  State.     As   it  has  been  in 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  25 


politics,  so  it  has  been  in  religion,  in  morality,  in  business.  In  the 
latter,  we  have  never  had  the  wealth  of  some  other  counties,  nor 
the  wild,  reckless,  speculating  spirit  of  some  others;  but  our  busi- 
ness men  have  always  been  of  the  safe,  conservative  sort,  that  make 
gradual  progress,  and  with  that  are  satisfied,  reference,  of  course, 
being  here  made  to  the  general  mass.  We  have  never  launched  out 
into  a  system  of  public  expenditures  for  this  public  improvement  or 
that,  not  consistent  with  our  actual  wants  and  our  ability  to  pay. 
We  have  no  public  city  or  county  debt  hanging  over  us  and  weigh- 
ing us  down  to  such  an  extent  as  to  cripple  our  industries,  and 
drive  away  our  population.  Our  taxes  are,  and  have  always  been 
medium,  as  compared  with  other  counties  in  the  State.  Our  im- 
provements have  been,  for  both  county  and  city,  just  such  as  the 
public  demands  suggested.  We  have  no  court  house  at  the  present, 
it  is  truC;  but  we  have  what  satisfies  the  public  in  both  economy 
and  convenience,  and  have  no  one,  two  or  three  million  dollar  court 
house  debt  eating  out  the  material  prosperity  of  the  people.  Our 
school  houses  are  ample  in  size,  well  built,  and  constructed  usually 
with  a  view  to  health,  comfort  and  convenience,  rather  than  show 
and  splendor.  We  have  kept  on  straight  forward,  as  the  crow  flies, 
and  have  met  with  no  reverses,  such  as  have  overtaken  other  coun- 
ties. In  peace  we  have  been  peaceful,  maintained  order,  and  had 
but  little  or  no  outlawry.  In  war  we  have  been  actuated  by  the 
dictates  of  true  and  genuine  patriotism,  and  have  done  our  whole 
duty.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war  we  furnished  50  men;  in  the  Mexi 
can  war,  79;  in  the  late  war,  a  reference  to  Chapter  IV  of  this 
work  will  satisfy  everyone  that  Macon  county  was  "  in  the  fray." 
In  the  ranks  we  were  not  behind.  Our  Tuppers,  Pughs,  Oglesbys, 
Moores,  Smiths,  and  a  host  of  others  were  there.  In  education, 
with  but  l8  persons  in  the  county,  between  the  ages  of  12  and  21, 
who  can  neither  read  nor  write,  we  have  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of, 
In  crimes  and  misdemeanors  our  position  is  not  unenviable.  Smaller 
counties,  with  one-fourth  our  population,  furnish  more  penitentiary 
convicts  than  we  do. 

Hence  we  say,  for  these  reasons,  and  many  others  that  might  be 
mentioned  in  this  connection,  that  while  we  are  not  boastful,  and 
"  have  none  of  that  other  spirit  that  would  drag  angels  down,"  yet 
we,  as  a  county,  can  claim  our  share  of  whatever  glory  there  may 
be  in   making   Illinois  one  of  the  first  States  in  the  Union,  in  pros- 

—4 


26  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

perity,  wealth  and  commanding  influence.  We  arrogate  to  our- 
selves nothing  but  what  justly  belongs  to  us,  but  if  it  were  possible 
to  blot  our  State  from  existence,  the  shock  would  affect  the  com- 
mercial world  from  center  to  circumference. 

ITS    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  house  erected  within  the  present  limits  of  Macon  county 
was  the  "  trading  house,"  about  eight  miles  north-east  of  Decatur, 
on  premises  belonging  to  Wm.  C.  Johns,  Esq.,  which  was  a  log 
structure,  built  by  Lortons  for  the  purpose  of  trading  with  the 
Indians.  A  thriving  business  was  carried  on  by  these  inen  until 
1825  or  '6,  when  the  Indians  ceased  to  visit  this  part  of  the  country, 
except  in  very  small  companies.  Prior  to  that,  from  200  to  500 
Indians  would  sometimes  be  camped  in  the  vicinity  at  once.  The 
men  were  principalh'  engaged  in  hunting,  and  would  bring  to  Lor- 
tons whatever  furs  or  other  articles  they  had  for  exchange,  and 
purchase  powder,  whisky,  blankets,  etc.  The  trading  house  was 
erected  about  the  year  1816.  The  Lortons  were  from  St.  Joe, 
Michigan,  and  returned  to  that  place  when  the  Indians  left  this  part 
of  Illinois.  The  second  house  erected  in  the  present  limits  of 
Macon  county  was  built  by  William  Downing,  near  the  present 
residence  of  Capt.  D.  L.  Allin,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Sangamon 
river.  This  was  in  fact  the  first  residence,  for  the  one  built  by 
Lortons  was  not  intended  as  a  permanent  residence,  but  only  for 
the  purpose  of  trafficking  with  the  Indians  so  long  as  they  remained 
in  the  vicinity.  Downing  is  said  to  have  come  into  this  vicinity  for 
the  purpose  of  trajDping  and  gathering  honey.  He  left  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Vandalia  in  the  spring  of  1820,  and  built  his  cabin  some 
time  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  Downing  remained  here  but  a  short 
time,  and  sold  his  "improvements"  to  John  Ward,  upon  the  latter's 
arrival  in  this  vicinity.  He  then  removed  to  Bond  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  lived  a  great  many  years.  It  is  regretted  that  a  more 
extended  sketch  of  Downing  cannot  be  given  in  this  connection, 
but  he  was  here  but  a  few  years,  and  there  is,  perhaps,  but  one  man 
now  living  in  the  county  who  was  here  any  portion  of  the  time 
that  Downing  was;  and  it  being  over  half  a  century  since,  he 
remembers  but  little  of  the  old  trapper  and  bee  hunter. 

The  next  house  built  was  by  Buel  Stevens,  in    1S22,  near  what 
is  now  known   as  Stevens'  creek,  about   three   miles   northwest  of 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  2'] 


Decatur.  This  became  the  nucleus  of  what  was  afterwards  known 
as  the  Stevens'  Settlement,  which,  with  the  Ward  Settlement,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river,  were  the  only  settlements  within  the 
present  line  of  Macon  county  until  about  the  year  1828,  when  peo- 
ple began  to  come  into  the  county,  and  settle  both  up  and  down 
the  river. 

For  an  account  of  the  early  settlements  made  within  what  was 
then  Macon,  but  which  now  constitutes  Piatt  county,  we  make  the 
following  extracts  from  a  historical  sketch  of  the  latter  county, 
read  at  l/Ionticello  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1S76,  prepared  by  a 
committee  consisting  of  William  H.  Piatt,  Ezra  Marquis  and  C. 
D.  Moore,  old  and  respected  citizens  of  that  county : 

"  Settlements  commenced  as  early  as  1823 — over  half  a  century 
ago.  The  first  known  settler  in  the  territory  comprising  Piatt 
county  was  George  Hayworth,  a  Quaker  from  Tennessee,  who, 
in  1823,  located  on  a  piece  of  land  included  in  the  present  city 
limits  of  Monticello,  and  built  the  first  cabin.  This  historic  struc- 
ture is  still  standing  in  Monticello,  and  is  used  for  a  stable.  He 
was  joined  during  the  same  year  by  a  Mr.  Daggett,  who  erected  a 
cabin  on  a  spot  just  north  of  Monticello,  where  N.  E.  Rhodes* 
barn  now  stands.  On  the  following  March,  1824,  Abraham  Hane- 
line,  of  Green  county,  Ohio,  moved  here  with  his  sons,  including 
Nathan,  who  is  the  oldest  resident  now  living  in  the  county. 
They  located  in  the  Sangamon  timber,  about  four  miles  northeast 
of  Monticello,  at  Coon's  Spring.  About  the  same  time  James 
and  John  Martin,  from  Virginia,  built  on  Furnes'  run,  about  a 
mile  above  the  spring.  The  next  year  brought  another  settler  by 
the  name  of  York,  who  stopped  near  the  mouth  of  Goose  Creek. 
In  1828  James  A.  Piatt,  Sen.,*  formerly  of  Ohio,  but  later  of 
Indianapolis,  Indiana,  purchased  the  claim  of  Hayworth,  and  in 
April,  1829,  moved  upon  the  claim  with  his  family.  In  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year,  Jeremiah  Terry  settled  on  what  is  now 
the   Piatt   county   fair   grounds.      In   1831,  Peter   Souders,  of  Lee 


*NoTE. — The  James  A.  Piatt  mentioned  in  the  above  extract,  was  for  years 
a  member  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court  of  Macon  county,  and  was  a 
very  efficient  and  valuable  officer.  The  records  show  that  he  was  seldom  ab- 
sent from  the  meetings  of  the  court,  though  he  was  compelled  to  ride  a  dis- 
tance of  over  twenty  miles  over  roads  that  must  have  been  almost  impassable 
at  times. 


28  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


county,  Virginia,  moved  his  family  to  the  northeast  part  of  the 
county,  in  the  Sangamon  timber.  Settlers  now  began  to  increase 
more  rapidly,  but  the  rich,  rolling  prairie,  with  all  its  fertility  and 
beauty,  seemed  to  have  few  charms  as  a  dwelling  place  for  these 
early  settlers.  Instead,  they  invariably  selected  some  spot  in  the 
timber  for  their  abiding  place,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  first 
settlers  had  neighbors  in  all  the  belts  of  timber  that  line  the  banks 
of  the  Sangamon,  Okaw,  Camp  Creek,  Goose  Creek,  Willow 
Branch  and  Madden's  Run.  Among  the  early  settlers  that  fol- 
lowed close  upon  the  heels  of  those  already  inentioned,  were 
Abraham  and  Ezra  Marquiss,  of  Ohio;  George  Widick,  a  Mr. 
Dillow,  James  Chambers  of  Kentucky;  John  Madden,  John 
Argo,  William  Wright,  Peter  Ci'oninger,  I.  V.  Williams,  Joseph 
Mallory,  George  Boyer,  Samuel  and  Jacob  Cline,  Thomas  Welch, 
John  Bailey,  George  Evans,  A.  Rizor,  Samuel  Suver,  John 
Hughes,  A.  J.  Wiley,  Luther  and  Joe  Moore,  William  Monroe, 
Simon  Shonk\viler,  Daniel  Stickel,  and  others." 

We  are  also  permitted  to  make  the  following  extract  from  the 
history  of  DeWitt  county,  by  Mr.  W.  L.  Glessner,  of  Clinton, 
which  was  prepared  for  the  Fourth  of  July  celebration  of  the 
present  year,  and  published  in  the  Clinton  Register  of  the  7th  of 
July,  1S76.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  portions  of  DeWitt 
county  referred  to,  constituted  a  part  of  Macon  until  1839,  so  that 
all  the  settlements  referred  to  w^ere  made  in  what  was  then  Macon 
county,  and  are  interesting  as  a  pai"t  of  Macon  county  history: 

"  The  first  settlers  of  DeWitt  count}',  as  near  as  I  have  been  able 
to  ascertain,  were  a  party  consisting  of  six  persons:  Zion  Shugart, 
Edom  Shugart,  their  mother,  Elisha  Butler  and  his  wife,  and  John 
Coppenbarger,  of  whom  the  only  living  member  is  Edom  Shu- 
gart, who  now  resides  at  Marysville,  Nebraska.  This  party 
arrived  in  what  is  now  section  seven,  Tunbridge  township  (on 
what  is  known  as  the  Emily  Hayes  farm),  on  the  29th  day  of 
October,  1824.  They  put  up  a  hastily  constructed  log  cabin,  and 
made  ready  for  the  winter.  During  the  winter  of  1S24,  Nathan 
Vestal,  with  a'large  family,  iTJOved  in  and  settled  a  short  distance 
from  the  Shugarts,  and  in  the  following  spring  John  Coppenbar- 
ger removed  his  family  into  the  neighborhood,  and  thus  was  com- 
menced the  settlement  of  that  portion  of  the  territory  of  Illinois 
now   know^n   as  DeWitt  county.      During  the  winter   of    1824   a 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


29 


little  girl  of  Nathan  Vestal's  died,  and  was  buried  on  the  hill  near 
Emily  Hayes'  residence.  As  there  was  no  lumber  in  the  country, 
a  coffin  was  made  by  splitting  slabs  out  of  trees  and  hewing  them 
into  shape.  The  nearest  settlement  to  the  Shugarts',  at  that  time, 
was  the  residence  of  a  man  named  Laughery,  ten  miles  down  Salt 
Creek,  in  what  is  now  Logan  county. 

"  Another  settlement  was  made  in  what  was  called  Fork  Prairie, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  town  of  Marion,  in  1831  and  '32,  the 
first  settlers  being  Thomas  R.  Davis,  James  Morris,  John  Morris, 
Benjamin  Lisenby,  Alexander  Dale,  Josian  Harp,  Charles  McCord 
and  Hugh  Davenport. 

"  The  first  settlement  about  Clinton  was  made  by  Joseph  (or 
Josiah)  Clion,  in  1830.  He  erected  a  cabin  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Paschal  Mills  farm,  about  one  mile  west  of  Clinton." 

There  were  also  early  settlements  made  in  what  was  then  this 
county,  but  which  now  forms  a  part  of  Moultrie,  as  earlv  as  1829 
and  '30. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  first  who  came  here,  as  a  general 
thing,  commenced  their  improvements  in  the  timber.  But  few, 
for  a  great  many  years,  thought  it  advisable  to  attempt  farming  in 
the  prairie.  They  at  first  were  not  satisfied  that  crops  could  be 
successfully  cultivated  there.  It  was  almost  the  unanimous  opin- 
ion that  the  large  prairies  never  would  be  in  a  state  of  cultivation, 
but  useful  only  for  grazing  purposes.  Another  obstacle  was  in  the 
way  for  a  good  many  years,  and  that  was,,  there  were  no  plows 
suitable  for  breaking  the  prairie  land.  The  sod  was  very  much 
tougher  then  than  it  was  in  after  years  when  the  stock  had  pastured 
the  prairies  and  killed  out  the  grass  to  some  extent.  It  would  be 
astonishing  to  many  of  our  present  residents  to  see  the  immense 
crops  of  prairie  grass  that  in  early  days  grew  upon  their  present 
fields.  It  grew  in  places  to  the  height  of  from  six  to  twelve  feet, 
and  was  "  almost  as  thick,"  some  of  the  old  settlers  say,  "  as  the 
hair  on  a  dog's  back."  It  was  these  immense  crops  of  grass  that 
furnished  the  fuel  for  the  terrible  fires  that  swept  over  the  prairies 
during  the  fall  season  of  the  year,  and  were  so  often  productive  of 
loss  of  life  and  property.  And  then,  again,  there  was  so  much  of 
the  prairie  land  that  was  considered  too  wet  to  be  ever  suitable  for 
cultivation.  Thousands  of  acres  that  now  constitute  some  of  the 
best  farms,  in   the   highest   state  of  cultivation,  and  possessing  the 


30  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

very  richest  of  soil,  were  condemned  as  swamp  lands.     The  fact  is 
that  there  is  much  of  the  land   of  Alacon  countv  that   is  now  con- 
sidered    high   and  dry,  or  at   least   sufficiently  so   for  all   practical 
farming  purposes,  that  was  so  wet  that  during  a  greater  portion  of 
the  year  it  was  absolutely  dangerous   to  ride  over  it  on  horseback, 
for  fear  of  miring.     There  was  another  drawback  in  the  settlement 
of  the  prairies,  and  that  was   the   great  labor  and  cost  of  fencing. 
It  is  a  well  authenticated  fact  that  the  northern  portion  of  Illinois 
might  have  been  under  a  general  state  of  improvement  a  great  many 
years  sooner  than  it  was,  but  for  the  difficulty  and  great  expense  of 
fencing  the  farms.     The   Supi^eme  Court  of  this  State,  at  an  early 
day,  entertaining  the   idea  generally  prevailing,  that  our  immense 
prairies  would  always  remain  commons,  and  used  only  for  pastur- 
ing purposes,  reversed  the  common  law  idea  prevailing  almost  uni- 
versally, in  consequence  of  which  every  man  was  compelled  to  fence 
his  entire  farm  so  as  to  keep   his  neighbor's  stock   out,  in   order   to 
protect  his  crop.     It  would  have  been  much  less  expensive  for  each 
man  to  have  protected   himself  against  his  own  stock,  than  to  have 
protected   himself  against  the   stock   of  the   entire   neighborhood. 
This  decision  of  the   Supreme  Court,  requiring  stock  to  be  fenced 
out  instead  of  in,  has  been  the  most  expensive  decision  to  the  people 
of  Illinois  of  any  other,  perhaps,  ever  made.    It  has  cost  the  farmers 
of  Macon  county,  who  entered  their  land  of  the  government,  more 
to  build  these  fences  and  keep  them  in  repair,  by  far,  than  the  land 
cost,  and  all  the  necessary  implements  of  husbandry.     Our  prairies 
would  have  been  in  a  splendid  state  of  cultivation  long  before  they 
were,  but  for  the  inability  of  the  people  to  build  the  necessary  fences 
to  protect   their  crops  from  destruction   by  the  few  cattle  that  were 
permitted  to  run  at  large  and  feed  on  the  commons  or  speculator's 
land.     One-tenth  of  the  land  that  might  have  been  in  cultivation  but 
for  the  expense  of  fencing,  would   have  produced  more  than  suffi- 
cient corn  to  have  fattened  all  the  hogs  running  at  large  merely  for 
the  sake  of  the  fall  masts.     Another  thing  retarded  the  early  settle- 
ment of  the  county    to  some  extent,  which-  was  the  fact  of  specu- 
lators  and   capitalists  from   the   east  coming  into   the  county   and 
buying  up   large  tracts  of  the  best  and    most  available  lands,  and 
holding  them  for  an  advance  in  price  occasioned  by  the  development 
and   improvement  of  the  surrounding   lands.     Every  person   who 
came  into  the  county  to  make  it  his  home  was  welcomed.     He  was 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


assisted  in  every  possible  ■way  to  induce  him  to  become  a  resident. 
But  the  speculator,  who  brought  nothing  into  the  county,  and  did 
nothing  whatever  to  develop  the  growth  of  the  country  by  building 
or  improvements  of  any  kind,  was  not  held  in  very  high  esteem  by 
the  residents  generally.  He  bought  his  lands  and  paid  the  small 
annual  assessments  thereon,  and  waited  for  other  people's  labor  and 
money  to  enhance  the  value  of  his  investments.  It  should  be  men- 
tioned, however,  in  this  connection,  that  Philo  Hale,  who  owned  as 
much  if  not  more  land  in  Macon  county  than  any  one  else,  was  an 
exception  to  the  rule  just  stated.  He  owned  large  bodies  of  land 
in  the  county,  but  he  came  here  and  made  this  his  home.  He  was 
one  of  the  people.  He  induced  others  to  come,  and  did  all  in  his 
power  to  advance  the  material  prosperity  of  the  county.  He  pub- 
lished in  the  eastern  papers  flaming  accounts  of  our  rolling  prairies, 
rich  soil,  etc.,  etc.  The  people  of  the  county  were  often  astonished 
at  reading  in  the  newspapers  published  in  the  eastern  States,  glow- 
ing accounts  of  large  and  enthusiastic  mass  meetings,  at  which 
Judge  so  and  so  presided,  and  Captain  so  and  so  acted  as  secretary, 
when  and  where  resolutions  were  passed  endorsing  this  or  that  local 
improvement,  and  expressing  the  gratitude  of  the  people  for  the 
rapid  progress  in  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Chicago  to  St. 
Louis  or  Chicago  to  New  Orleans,  or  Vincennes  to  Nauvoo!  Of 
course  the  meetings  and  the  resolutions  passed  only  existed  in  the 
mind  of  Mr.  Hale,  and,  of  course,  the  result  to  be  accomplished 
was  commendable,  whether  some  of  the  means  he  resorted  to  were 
justifiable  or  not.  Had  he  lived  to  old  age,  Mr.  H.  would  have 
been  instrumental  in  aiding  immensely  in  the  material  advancement 
and  improvement  of  the  county.* 

Another  obstacle  was  also  in  the  way  of  the  rapid  advancement 
of  the  country,  and  that  was,  the  lack  of  markets  for  the  produce 
raised,  which  continued  until  railroad  facilities  were  offered  by  the 
opening  of  the  great  Western  Railroad  (now  T.,  W.  &  W.  R.  R.), 
and  the  Illinois  Central — the  former  in  1852,  and  the  latter  in  1854. 
The  hogs  and  cattle  sold  had  to  be  driven  overland  to  St.  Louis, 
Chicago  and  other  markets.     There  was  no    sale,  of  course,  for 


♦Note. — He  died  about  1836,  and  was  buried  on  the  "  Hale  farm,"  in  Mt. 
Zion  township.  His  grave  is  said  to  be  unmarked  and  neglected,  although  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  thousands  of  acres  of  land  in  this  county 
which  has  since  become  valuable! 


32  "  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

corn — or  compai"atively  none — and  wheat,  when  hauled  to  Spring- 
field, but  very  seldom  realized  over  thirty-three  cents  per 
bushel,  so  that  there  was  no  impetus  given  to  the  raising  of  grain 
of  any  sort,  except  lor  home  consumption.  But  upon  the  con- 
struction of  the  railroads  above  mentioned,  dividing  the  county  into 
four  quarters,  a  new  era  commenced  in  the  history  of  Macon 
county.  The  fact  is,  that  the  day  that  the  first  train  of  cars  ran 
into  Decatur,  is  the  day  from  which  the  material  advancement  of 
Macon  county  dates.  That  was  the  beginning  of  our  improve- 
ments; that  was  the  beginning  of  our  settlement  proper;  that  was 
the  beginning  of  our  agricultural  development.  It  was  the  com- 
mencement of  our  manufacturing  institutions;  it  was  the  com- 
mencement of  the  city  of  Decatur.  According  to  the  United 
States  census  for  1850,  the  entire  population  of  Macon  county  at 
that  time  was  but  3,998.  From  1850  to  1870 — a  period  of  twenty 
years — the  population  had  increased  to  26,481.  In  1830,  the  year 
after  the  organization  of  the  county,  our  population  was  but  1,133, 
so  that  the  increase  in  population  for  the  twenty  years  preceding 
the  construction  of  our  two  leading  railroads  was  but  2,876,  and 
for  the  twenty  years  following  was  22,483.  In  1850  but  a  small 
portion  of  our  prairies  were  in  cultivation,  but  now  they  are  a 
solid  mass  of  farms,  and  many  of  them  are  in  a  splendid  state  of 
cultivation.  There .  were  in  cultivation  during  the  year  1876, 
258,315  acres  of  land.  But  it  must  be  remembered  that  this  vast 
body  of  land  now  in  cultivation,  does  not  produce  as  much  by  one- 
half  as  it  is  capable  of  under  a  judicious  and  systematic  treatment, 
such  as  we  find  in  some  of  the  older  states. 

Another  influence  also  operated  in  retarding  the  rapid  settlement 
of  the  county  during  its  early  histoiy,  and  that  was  what  was 
variously  styled  the  "ague,"  "chills  and  fever,"  and  "Illinois 
shakes."  It  was  a  terror  to  newcomers.  In  the  fall  season  of  the 
year,  like  Brady's  bitters,  everybody  took  it.  It  was  no  respecter 
of  persons;  everybody  shook  with  it,  and  it  was  in  everybody's 
system.  They  all  looked  pale  and  yellow,  as  though  they  were 
frost-bitten.  It  was  not  contageous,  but  was  a  kind  of  miasmi  that 
floated  around  the  atmosphere  and  was  absorbed  in  the  system.  It 
kept  on  absorbing  and  accumulating  from  day  to  da}',  until  the 
whole  body  corporate  became  charged  with  it  as  with  electricity, 
and  then  the  shock  came;  and  the  shock  was  a  regular  shake,  with 


HISTORY    OP    MACON    COUNTY. 


3$ 


a  fixed  beginning  and  an  ending,  coming  on  each  day,  or  each 
alternate  day,  with  a  regularity  that  was  surprising.  And  after  the 
shake,  then  came  the  fever,  and  this  "  last  estate  was  worse  than 
the  first."  It  was  a  burning  hot  fever,  and  one  that  lasted  for 
hours.  When  you  had  the  chill  you  couldn't  get  warm,  and  when 
you  had  the  fever  you  couldn't  get  cool.  It  was  awkward  in  this 
respect.  It  was,  indeed.  It  would  not  stop,  either,  for  any  sort  of 
contingency.  Not  even  a  wedding  in  the  family  would  stop  it. 
It  was  impei-ative  and  exacting.  When  the  appointed  hour  came 
around,  everything  else  had  to  be  stopped  to  attend  to  its  demands. 
It  didn't  have  any  Sundays  or  holidays.  After  the  fever  went 
down,  you  didn't  still  feel  much  better.  You  felt  as  though  you 
had  gone  through  some  sort  of  a  collision,  and  came  out  not  killed, 
but  badly  demoralized.  You  felt  weak,  as  though  you  had  run  too 
far  after  something,  and  then  didn't  catch  it.  You  felt  languid, 
stupid  and  sore,  and  was  down  in  the  mouth  and  heel  and  partially 
raveled  out,  so  to  speak.  Your  back  was  out  of  fix,  and  your 
appetite  was  in  a  worse  fix  than  that.  Your  eyes  had  more  white 
in  them  than  usual,  and  altogether,  you  felt  poor,  disconsolate  and 
sad.  You  didn't  think  much  of  yourself,  and  didn't  believe  other 
people  did  either.  Your  didn't  care  whether  there  was  any  school 
or  not.  You  didn't  think  much  of  suicide,  but  at  the  same  time 
you  almost  made  up  your  mind  that  under  certain  circumstances  it 
was  justifiable.  You  imagined  that  even  the  dogs  looked  at  you 
with  a  kind  of  self-complacency.  You  thought  the  sun  had  a  kind 
of  sickly  shine  about  it.  About  this  time  you  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  you  would  not  take  the  whole  State  of  Illinois  as  a  gift, 
and  picked  up  Hannah  and  the  baby  and  your  traps,  and  went 
back  "  yander  "  to  Injeany,  Ohio,  or  old  Kaintuck. 

The  above  is  no  picture  of  the  imagination.  It  occurred  in  hun- 
dreds of  cases.  It  put  us  in  bad  repute  with  our  neighbors,  and 
for  that  reason  they  refused  to  come  and  settle  with  us.  Whole 
families  would  sometimes  be  sick  at  once,  and  not  one  member 
scarcely  able  to  wait  on  the  others.  And  when  an  emigrant  hap- 
pened to  stop  in  a  neighborhood  affected  with  this  disease,  he  did 
not  stay  long. 

Persons  emigrating  to  the  county  usually  selected  their  locations 
and  commenced  their  improvements  on  government  land,  and 
waited  until  they  were  able   to   amass   from   the  scanty  resources 

—5 


34  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

enough  to  purchase  the  forty  or  eighty  acres — as  the  case  might  be 
— at  the  sales  at  the  land  office  at  Vandalia.  In  the  earlier  days 
the  government  price  of  land  was  fixed  at  $1.25  per  acre.  Amus- 
ing incidents  are  related  in  connection  with  the  races  that  were 
sometimes  made  by  different  persons  desiring  to  enter  the  same 
piece  of  land.  It  was  not  unfrequent  that  men  who  had  about" 
exhausted  their  means  in  reaching  the  country,  and  had  labored 
hard  and  undergone  all  sorts  of  privations  in  securing  a  comfortable 
home  and  other  necessary  improvements,  and  had,  perhaps,  a  few 
acres  of  ground  in  cultivation-^when  they  had  at  last  obtained,  by 
the  strictest  economy,  or  perhaps  borrowed  enough  money,  to 
purchase  from  the  government  their  little  forty-acre  home,  found 
that  soirie  speculator  had  preceded  them  and  entered  their  land. 
It  is  said,  however,  that  in  some  instances  the  speculator  did  not 
retain  the  improvements;  for,  by  some  magical  power  or  otherwise, 
in  a  remarkable  short  space  of  time  almost,  the  identical  improve- 
ments appeared  at  some  other  locality  not  far  away,  and  having 
the  same  occupants. 

The  first  piece  of  land  ever  entered  in  Macon  county  was  the 
west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  thirty-one,  in  town- 
ship sixteen  north,  range  two  east  of  the  third  principal  meridian, 
on  the  ninth  day  of  November,  1827,  by  Lewis  B.  Ward.  This 
was  owned  by  Mr.  Ward  until  the  fall  of  1876,  when  it  was  sold  to 
Hartley  G.  Henry.  There  were  about  eight  hundred  acres  of  land 
entered  during  that  year,  and  there  is  now  probably  not  an  acre  of 
land  in  the  county  belonging  to  the  government. 


; 


CHAPTER    III. 


COUNTY    OFFICERS. 


At  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  county,  all  county  affairs 
were  transacted  by  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  which  was 
composed  of  three  men,  who  were  usually  selected  with  reference 
to  their  qualifications  for  the  peculiar  and  responsible  duties  of  the 
office.  This  court  assumed  jurisdiction  upon  almost  all  manner  of 
subjects,  except  the  exercise  of  judicial  functions,  and  the  record 
shows  that,  even  in  this  respect,  upon  one  occasion  at  least,  the 
court  assumed  to  fine  a  man  for  an  indignity  to  that  honorable  body, 
which  supposed  indignity  the  court  characterised  as  "  flouting," 
whatever  that  may  mean. 

COUNTY    commissioners'    COURT. f 


1S29-30 — Benjamin  Wilson, 
Elisha  Freeman, 
James  Miller, 

1831-32 — James  Miller, 
I.  C.  Pugh, 
David  Davis, 

1833-34 — Elisha  Freeman, 
Hugh  Bolls, 
Philip  D.  Williams. 

1835-36 — James  A,  Piatt, 
Wm.  Muirhead, 
Benj.  Wilson. 


1830-31 — Elisha  Freeman, 
James  Miller, 
I.  C.  Pugh. 

1S32-33 — James  Miller, 
I.  C.  Pugh, 
David  Davis. 

1834-35 — James  A.  Piatt, 
Wm.  Muirhead, 
Benj.  Wilson. 

1836-37 — James  A.  Piatt, 
Wm.  Muirhead, 
Benj.  Wilson. 


fEstablished  under  act  of  March  22,  1819. 


36  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

1837-38 — James  A.  Piatt,  1S38-39 — Wm.  Muirhead, 

Wm.  Muirhead,  James  A.  Piatt, 

Josiah  Clifton.  Abram  Chapin. 

1839-40 — *Elisha  Freeman,  3  yrs  1840-41 — Elisha  Freeman, 
*Benj.  Wilson,  2  yrs.,  Benj.  Wilson, 

*Hiram  Chapin,  i  yr.  John  Rucker. 

1841-42 — Elisha  Freeman,  1842-43 — John  Rucker, 

John  Rucker,  Abraham  H.  Keller, 

Abraham  H,  Keller.  Leonard  Ashton. 

1843-44 — J^^^  Rucker,  1844-45 — J'^^"  Rucker, 

Leonard  Ashton,  Andrew  W.  Smith, 

Andrew  W.  Smith.  James  D.  Tait. 

184^-46 — Andrew  W.  Smith,        1846-47 — Elisha  Freeman, 
James  D.  Tait,  Samuel  Rea, 

Elisha  Freeman.  James  D.  Campbell. 

1847-48 — Elisha  Freeman,  184S-49 — Elisha  Freeman, 

Samuel  Rea,  Samuel  Rea, 

James  D.  Campbell.  James  D.  Campbell. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  there  are  but  two  members  of  the  above 
court  remaining  in  Macon  county,  viz:  James  D.  Tait  and  Samuel 
Rea.     The  others  are  either  dead  or  have  ceased  to  be  residents. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  approved  February  12,  1849,  the 
County  Commissioners'  Court  was  abolished,  and  the  County 
Court  established,  This  act  provided  for  the  election  of  a  county 
judge  and  two  additional  justices  of  the  peace,  whose  duty  it  should 
be  "  to  sit  with  the  county  judge  as  members  of  the  court,  for  the 
transaction  of  all  county  business."  The  County  Court  was  in 
existence  from  1850  to  i860.  The  following  constituted  our 
County  Court  during  that  period: 

COUNTY    COURT. 

18^0-51 — William  Prather,  County  Judge. 
Jacob  Hostetler,  Associate  Justice. 
John  Rucker,  Associate  Justice. 

♦These  Commissioners  were  allotted  to  the  respective  terms  opposite  their 
names  by  the  County  Clerk,  under  an  act  approved  March  ist,  1S37.  Under 
this  act  the  term  of  service  of  the  County  Commissioners  was  fixed  at  three 
years,  one  to  be  elected  each  year. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  37 

1851-52 — William  Prather,  County  Judge. 
Jacob  Hosteller,  Associate  Justice. 
John  Rucker,  Associate  Justice. 

1852-53 — William  Prather,  County  Judge. 
Jacob  Hostetler,  Associate  Justice. 
John  Rucker,  Associate  Justice. 

1853-54 — William  Prather,  County  Judge. 
Jacob  Hostetler,  Associate  Justice. 
John  Rucker,  Associate  Justice. 

1854-55 — William  Prather,  County  Judge. 
Jacob  Hostetler,  Associate  Justice. 
John  Rucker,  Associate  Justice. 

1855-56 — William  Prather,  County  Judge. 
Jocob  Hostetler,  Associate  Justice. 
John  Rucker,  Associate  Justice. 

1856-57 — John  Rickets,  County  Jndge. 

Jacob  Hostetler,  Associate  Justice. 
John  Rucker,  Associate  Justice. 

1857-58 — John  Rickets,  County  Judge. 

Jacob  Spangler,  Associate  Justice. 
M.  G.  Camron,  Associate  Justice. 

1858-59 — John  Rickets,  County  Judge. 

Jacob  Spangler,  Associate  Justice. 
M.  G.  Camron,  Associate  Justice. 

1869-70 — John  Rickets  County  Judge. 

Jacob  Spangler,  Associate  Justice. 
M.  G.  Camron,  Associate  Justice. 

There  are  but  three  members  of  the  old  County  Court  now 
living,  viz :  Judge  John  Rickets,  and  Associate  Justices  Jacob 
Spangler  and  M.  G.  Camron. 

BOARD    OF    SUPERVISORS.* 

1S60. 

Hickory  Point,  J.  Y.  Braden.        Oakly,  G.  W.  Forest. 
Austin,  James  Parker.  Long  Creek,  John  Rucker. 

Note. — On  the  17th  of  February,  1851,  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  coun- 
ties to  adopt  the  system  of  "Township  Organization"  therein  prescribed, 
upon    the  petition  and  vote   of  citizens  of    the    county.     At    the    September 


38 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Maroa,  William  Crawford. 
Friends  Creek,  D.  K.  Wilson, 
Decatur,  H.  B.  Durfee. 
Niantic,  J.  H.  Hughes. 
S.  Wneatland,  I.  S.  Boardman. 


Whitmore,  Jas.  Lichtenberger. 
Harristown,  Abraham  Eyman. 
Decatur,  John  W.  Koehler,  ast. 
Mt.  Zion,  W.  C.  Meyers. 
South  Macon,  W.  D.  Hamilton. 


Blue  Mound,  J.  C.  Armstrong. 
1861. 


Decatur,  H.  B.  Durfee. 
Friends  Creek,  D.  K.  Wilson. 
Maroa,  W.  F.  Crawford. 
Hickory  Point,  J.  Y.  Braden, 
Niantic,  J.  H.  Hughes. 
Oakley,  G.  W.  Forest. 
Long  Creek,  J.  C.  Rucker. 


Decatur,  John  W.  Koehler,  ast. 
Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moffett. 
Mt.  Zion,  W.  C.  Meyers. 
S.  Wheatland,  I.  S.  Boardman. 
Harristown,  J.  H.  Pickrell. 
South  Macon,  L.  M.  Clement. 
Whitmore,  Henry  Rhodes. 


Austin,  J.  S.  Parker. 


1S62. 


Harristown,  J.  B.  Hanks. 
Whitmore,  Jas.  Lichtenberger. 
Long  Creek,  J.  C.  Rucker. 
Niantic,  J.   A.  Pritchett. 
S.  Wheatland,  L  S.  Boardman. 
South  Macon,  A.  H.  Martin. 
Decatur,  John  W.  Koehler. 


Hickory  Point,  J.  Y.  Braden. 
Maroa,  W.  F.  Crawford. 
Mt.  Zion,  B.  W.  Davidson. 
Friends  Creek,  Comely  Lukens. 
Blue  Mound,  F.  A.  Brown. 
Decatur,  H.  B.  Durfee. 
Austin,  A.  Emery. 


Oakley,  Laban  Chambers. 


term,  1859,  of  the  County  Court,  a  vote  of  the  county  was  authorized  to  be 
submitted  to  the  legal  voters  at  the  November  election  ensuing.  The  propo- 
sition to  go  into  township  organization  was  carried,  and  at  the  December  term 
following  of  the  County  Court,  William  Cantrill,  David  Garver  and  James 
Dingman,  were  appointed  as  commissioners  to  divide  the  county  into  town- 
ships, which  they  did,  and  reported  to  the  court  their  action  on  the  14th  of 
January,  i860.  At  that  time  the  county  was  divided  into  fourteen  townships, 
as  follows:  (i)  Friends  Creek  (2)  Maroa,  (3)  Montgomery  (afterwards  changed 
to  Austin),  (4)  Bull  Point  (afterwards  changed  to  Hickory,  and  then  to  Hickory 
Point),  (5)  Decatur,  (6)  Long  Creek,  (7)  Whitmore,  (8)  Oakley,  (9)  Harris 
(afterwards  changed  to  Harristown,  (10)  Wilson  (afterwards  changed  to  Mt. 
Zion),  (11)  South  Wheatland,  (12)  South  Macon,  (13)  Madison  (afterwards 
changed  to  Blue  Mound),  (14)  Niantic.  Illini,  Milam,  and  Pleasant  View  have 
been  since  formed  of  parts  of  other  townships. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


39 


Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 

Whitmore,  John  Gill. 

Long  Creek,  John  S.  Kizer. 

Niantic,  J.  W.  Corbett. 

S.  Wheatland,  I.  S.  Boardman 

South  Macon,  W.  W.  Dean. 

Decatur,  B.  F.  Dillehunt. 


Hickory  Point,  J.  Y.  Braden, 
Whitmore,  Charles  Wooster. 
Niantic,  J.  W.  Corbett. 
Decatur,  J.  E.  Roberts. 
Maroa,  W.  F.  Crawford. 
South  Macon,  Frank  Babcock 
Mt.  Zion,  John  Scott. 
Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moffett. 


Hickory  Point,  J.  Y.  Braden 
Whitmore,  Joshua  Green. 
Niantic,  J.  W.  Corbett. 
Decatur,  W.  O.  Jones. 
Maroa,  Anderson  Franklin. 
S.  Macon,  Frank  Babcock. 
Mt.  Zion,  Jehu  Scott. 
Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moffett. 


1863. 

Hickory  Point,  J.  Y.  Braden. 
Maroa,  W.  F.  Crawford. 
Mt.  Zion,  B.  W.  Davidson. 
Friends    Creek,  Andrew  Dickey. 
.     Blue  Mound,  F.  A.  Brown. 
Decatur,  H,  B.  Durfee. 
Austin,  J.  S.  Parker. 
Oakley,  H.  McCoy. 

1S64. 

Illini,J.  H.  Pickrell. 

Austin,  J.  S.  Parker. 

S.  Wheatland,  I.  S.  Boardman. 

Decatur,  David  Morgan. 

Oakley,  H.  McCoy. 

Friends  Creek,  Comely  Lukens.j 

Long  Creek,  John  W.  Tyler. 

Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 

1865. 

mini,  John  S.  Childs. 
Austin,  J,  S.  Parker. 
S:  Wheatland,  L  S.  Boardman. 
Decatur,  David  Morgan. 
Oakley,  O.  J.  Doyle. 
Friends  Creek,  D.  K.  Wilson. 
Long  Creek,  John  W.  Tyler. 
Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 

1866. 


H.  Point,  W.  F.  Montgomery. 
Whitmore,  Joshua  Green. 
Niantic,  J.  W.  Corbett. 
Decatur,  H.  B.  Durfee. 
Maroa,  John  Crocker. 
South  Macon,  N.  Failing. 
Mt.  Zion,  John  A.  Henry. 
Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moffett. 


i/i<&rMii 


mini,  J.  S.  Childs. 

Austin,  C.   F.  Emery. 

S.  Wheatland,  Jno.  Montgomery 

Decatur,  W.  A.  Barnes. 

Oakley,  O.  J.  Doyle. 

Friends  Creek,  William  Daves. 

Long  Creek,  John  W.  Tyler. 

Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 


■{■Resigned. 


40 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Decatur,  H.  B.  Durfee. 
Whitmore,  Jas.  Lichtenberger 
South  Macon,  R.  Gray. 
Niantic,  A,  W.  Pritchett. 
South  Macon,  N.  Failing. 
Mt.  Zion,  J.  A.  Henry, 
mini,  J.  S*!  Childs. 
Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 


Decatur,  H.  B.  Durfee. 
Whitmore,  J.  G.  Harnesberger. 
South  Macon,  Joel  T.  Walker. 
Niantic,  Sheldon  Parks. 
South  Macon,  John  Lyon. 
Mt.  Zion.  J.  A.  Henry, 
mini.  J.  C.  Tucker. 
Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 

Decatur,  James  Milliken. 
Whitmore,  J.  G.  Harnesberger 
Macon,  Joel  T.  Walker. 
Niantic,  Shaw  Pease. 
Maroa,  JohnT.  Lyon. 
Mt.  Zion,  R.  M.  Foster, 
mini,  J.  J.  Bachelder. 
Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 


1867. 

Decatur,  W.  A.  Barnes. 

Friends  Creek,  Wm.  Daves. 

Austin,  C.  F.  Emery. 

Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moffett. 

S.  Wheatland,  I.  S.  Boardman. 

Long  Creek,  J.  S.  Kizer. 

Oakley,  E.  Rhodes. 

H.  Point,  W.  F.  Montgomery. 

1868. 

Decatur,  M.  Forstmeyer. 
Friends  Creek,  S.  Payne. 
Austin,  T.  B.  Campbell. 
Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moffett. 
S.  Wheatland,  L  S.  Boardman. 
Long  Creek,  Joseph  Spangler. 
Oakley,  E.  Rhodes. 
Hickory  Point,  H.  S.  Mannon. 

1869. 

Decatur,  M.  Forstmeyer. 
Friends  Cr'k,  Payne  &  Swantes. 
Austin,  Robert  T.  Morris. 
Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moffett. 
S.  Wheatland,  L  S.  Boardman. 
Long  Creek,  Samuel  Gillispie. 
Oakley,  Reed  Spencer. 
Hickory  Point,  A.  McBride. 


Pleasant  View,  D,  Powles. 
1870. 


Decatur,  Reuben  Betzer. 
Whitmore,  Jas.  Lichtenberger. 
Macon,  J.  T.  Walker. 
Niantic,  Thomas  Acom. 
Maroa,  John  T.  Lyon. 
Mt.  Zion,  R.  M.  Foster. 


Decatur,  M.  Forstmeyer. 
Friends  Ci'eek,  F.  Swantes.* 
Austin,  Peter  Bennett. 
Blue  Mound,  R.  H.  Hill. 
Wheatland,  L  S.  Boardman. 
Long  Creek,  J.  Benson  Myers. 


♦Resigned,  and  T.  H.  Barr  appointed. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


4» 


mini,  J.  J.  Bachelder. 
Hasristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 
Pleasant  View,  D.  D.  Powles. 

Milam,  G.  A.  Bartlett. 
Mt.  Zion,  William  Davis. 
Decatur,  M.  Forstmeyer. 
Whitmore,  Joshua  Green. 
Maroa,  Samuel  Lowe. 
Long  Creek,  J.  B.  Myers. 
Pleasant  View,  D.  D.  Powles, 
mini,  J.  C.  Tucker. 
South  Macon,  J.  T.  Walker. 

Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 
Whitmore,  Joshua  Green, 
Decatur,  H.  Hummell. 
Hickory  Point,  A.  McBride. 
Mt.  Zion,  G.  A.  Smith. 
Long  Creek,  A.  T.  Davis. 
Austin,  D.  Patterson. 
S.  Wheatland,  Hiram  Ward. 
Pleasant  View,  John  Hatfield. 

Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 
Blue  Mound,  Frank  Coleman 
Mt.  Zion,  Wm.  Davis. 
Macon,  N.  Failing. 
Decatur,  Jacob  Spangler. 
Hickory  Point,  H.  Lehman. 
Maroa,  John  Orr. 
Friends  Creek,  R.  H.  Park. 
Whitmore,  J.  C.  Ruddock. 

Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 


Oakley,  Reed  Spencer. 
Hickory  Point,  A.  McBride. 
Milam,  J.  B.  Gleason.j- 

1871. 

Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 
Austin,  C.  F.  Emery. 
Decatur,  Joseph  Mills. 
Blue  Mound,  R.  H.  Hill. 
Friends  Creek,  John  Marsh. 
Hickory  Point,  A.  McBride. 
Oakley,  E.  Rhodes. 
S.  Wheatland,  Hiram  Ward. 
Niantic,  S.  Parks. 

1872. 

South  Macon,  N.  Failing. 
Niantic,  John  Gordy. 
Decatur,  Jacob  Spangler. 
Maroa,  Jason  Rogers. 
Oakley,  Read  Spencer. 
Niantic,  S.  Parks, 
mini,  J.  C.  Tucker. 
Milam,  G.  A.  Bartlett. 
Blue  Mound,  D.  F.  Barber. 

1873- 

Oakley,  Dr.  S.  Cooper. 
Long  Creek,  A.  T.  Davis. 
Niantic,  James  Dingman. 
Decatur,  David  S.  Hughes. 
Pleasant  View,  E.  House, 
mini,  L.  R.  Morse. 
Austin,  D.  Patterson. 
Milam,  J.  W.  Rogers. 
S.  Wheatland,  H.  Ward. 

1874. 

Oakley,  Dr.  S.  Cooper. 


fOrganized  in  1869. 

—6 


42 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUXTY. 


Blue  Mound,  Frank  Coleman. 
Niantic,  James  Dingman. 
Macon,  W.  S.  Gage. 
Decatur,  Jacob  Spangler. 
Pleasant  View,  E.  House. 
Hickory  Point,  A.  McBride. 
Friends  Creek,  J.  Ruddock. 
Wheatland,  H.  Ward. 

Blue  Mound,  F.  M.  Coleman. 
Whitmore,  J.C.  Ruddock. 
Decatur,  H.  B.  Durfee. 
Oakley,  William  Grason. 
Long  Creek,  Samuel  Gillispie. 
Mt.  Zion,  J.  A.  Henry. 
Austin,  Robert  Morris, 
mini,  L.  R.  Morse. 
Friends  Creek,  Jas.  W.  Brown 


Mt.  Zion,  Wm.  Davis. 
Oakley,  Wm.  Grason. 
Decatur,  David  Hughes. 
Decatur,  H.  Hummel. 
Austin,  Robert  Morris. 
Maroa,  John  Orr. 
Maroa,  Jason  Rogers. 
Long  Creek,  Samuel  Gillispie. 

'875- 

Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 

Decatur,  M.  Forstmeyer. 

Decatur,  Jacob  Spangler. 

South  Macon,  W.  S.  Gage. 

Pleasant  View,  E.  House. 

Milam,  W.  E.  Kyker. 

Hickory  Point,  A.  McBride. 

Maroa,  John  Orr. 
.    South  Wheatland,  H.  Ward. 

[876. 


Decatur,  Samuel  Powers. 
Decatur,  M.  Forstmeyer. 
Pleasant  View,  E.  House. 
Oakley,  William  Grason. 
Hickory  Point,  Henry  Lehman, 
mini,  L.  R.  Morse. 
Harristown,  M.  G.  Camron. 
Mt.  Zion,  W.  H.  Wallace. 
Blue  Mound,  W.  T.  Moifett. 

Austin,  A 


Decatur,  D.  L.  Hughes. 
Milam,  W.  E.  Kyker. 
Maroa,  John  Longstreet. 
Wheatland,  H.  Ward. 
Whitmore,  J.  C.  Ruddock. 
Long  Creek,  H.  W.  Davis. 
Niantic,  A.  C.  Edgar. 
Friends  Creek,  J,  W.  Brown. 
Macon,  R.  H.  Woodcock. 
Hackyard. 


HISTORY    OK    MACON    COUNTY. 


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HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


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HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  47 

The  first  Circuit  Court  held  in  the  county  was  in  the  town  of 
Decatur,  commencing  on  the  eighth  day  of  May,  1830,  and  was 
presided  over  by  Judge  Samuel  D.  Lockwood.  Wm.  Warnick 
was  sheriff,  and  Daniel  McCall  clerk,  and  John  H.  Pugh  was 
prosecuting  attorney.  There  were  on  the  docket  for  trial,  at  this 
term,  the  following  cases:  Thomas  Cowan  vs.  Wm.  King,  appeal ; 
John  Hanks  vs.  John  Henderson,  slander;  Wm.  Webb  vs.  Hub- 
bell  Sprague,  slander;  W^m.  Webb  vs.  Phillip  D.  Williams,  appeal. 
The  two  appeal  cases  were  dismissed  at  the  cost  of  the  defend- 
ants, and  the  first  slander  suit  was  dismissed  at  the  cost  of  the 
plaintiff,  and  the  second  at  the  cost  of  the  defendant.  At  the 
March  term,  1830,  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  the  fol- 
lowing order  was  made,  and  the  persons  therein  named  constituted 
the  first  grand  and  petit  jurors: 

'•'■  Ordered^  That  the  following  named  persons  appear  before  the 
Circuit  Court,  to  be  held  at  Decatur  on  the  sixth  day  of  May  next, 
at  the  hour  of  eleven  o'clock  A.  m.,  to  serve  as  grand  jurors,  to-wit: 
Benjamin  R.  Austin,  Francis  G.  Hill,*  Robert  Foster,  William 
Freeman,  Lambert  G.  Bearden,  James  Ward,  Jeremiah  Ward, 
William  D.  Baker*,  Michael  Myres,  William  Wheeler,  Edmund 
McDaniel,*  William  Miller,  John  Miller,  sr.,  James  Hanks,  Isaac 
Miller,  David  Miller  (2d),  Samuel  Miller,  William  King,  Thomas 
Cowan,  Luther  Stevens,  John  Miller  (3d),  John  Hanks,*  and  Jon- 
athan Miller;  and  that  the  following  named  persons  appear  at  the 
Circuit  Court,  at  the  time  and  place  above  mentioned,  to  serve  as 
petit  jurors,  to-wit:  David  Miller,  Doras  Stevens,  Matthias 
Anderson,  Parmenas  Smallwood,  James  Owens,  Winkfield 
Everett,  William  Ward,  John  Widick,  Samuel  Widick,  James 
W.  D.  Taylor,  James  A,  Ward,  James  Myres,  John  Mowry, 
Henry  Ewing,  James  Finly,  James  McGinas,  George  Widick, 
Landy  Harrell,  Peter  Walker,  William  Cox,  Berry  Rose,  Ran- 
dolph Rose,  David  Davis  and  John  Warnick." 

Substantially  the  same  juries  were  selected  at  the  August  term, 
1829,  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  to  serve  at  a  fall  term 
of  the  Circuit  Court  to  have  been  held  at  the  house  of  James 
Ward.  The  writs  issued  were  returnable  at  a  court  to  be  held  at 
James  Wards  also;  but  there  is  no  record    of  a   court  held  in  the 

*Four  of  this  grand  jury  are  still  living;  but  none  of  the  petit  jury. 


4^  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


fall  of  1829,  and  one  of  the  jurors  who  served  at  the  first  term  of 
court  informs  me  that  it  was  held  in  Decatur  in  1S30.  There  is 
an  impression,  however,  in  the  minds  of  many,  that  the  first  court 
was  held  at  Ward's,  four  miles  south  of  Decatur. 

The  grand  jury  selected  as  above  stated,  were  charged  by  John 
H.  Pugh,  after  which  they  retired  "to  consider  the  presentments." 
On  the  same  day  they  "  returned  into  court,  and  having  no  busi- 
ness, nor  the  attorney  for  the  people  any  for  them,"  were  dis- 
charged. 

There  appears  to  be  no  evidence  as  to  what  attorney  attended 
this  term  of  court,  either  from  the  record  files  or  docket,  excepting 
Mr.  Pugh. 

The  second  term  of  court  was  held  on  the  second  and  third  days 
of  May,  1 83 1.  At  this  term  there  were  six  cases  pending  for  trial, 
one  of  which  was  an  indictment  for  cheating,  on  change  of  venue 
from  Tazewell  county,  which  was  continued.  Another  was  for 
"  damages,"  which  was  dismissed  by  the  plaintiff.  The  other  four 
cases  were  for  slander,  two  of  which  were  continued  by  consent, 
one  dismissed  by  the  plaintiff,  and  one  tried,  in  which  the  jury 
rendered  a  verdict  of  guilty,  and  assessed  the  plaintiff's  damages  at 
one  cent. 

The  attorneys  engaged  in  these  cases  were:  George  Forquer, 
John  H.  Pugh,  W.  L.  D.  Ewing,  and  Hon.  John  T.  Stuart,  all  of 
Springfield. 

The  following  persons  constituted  the  grand  jury:  James  John- 
son, foreman;  Benjamin  Wilson,  Thomas  Ward,  Ephraim  Cox, 
Hiram  Reavis,  William  Christopher,  John  Walker,  William  Muir- 
heid,  Richard  Dauget,  Benjamin  Frazie,  Jacob  Coppenbarger, 
John  Ballard,  Moses  Harrel,  Christopher  Miller,  Joseph  Stevens, 
John  Taylor,  David  L.  Allin,  John  Ingram,  Reuben  Beecher, 
Josiah  Allen,  James  Bone,  John  Smith  and  Landy  Harrell,  who, 
on  being  sworn  and  charged,  "  retired  to  consult;"  after  which 
they  brought  into  court  one  indictment  charging  the  defendant 
with  larceny. 

The  petit  jury  at  this  term  was  as  follows:  Emanuel  Widick, 
Lewis  B.  Ward,  Jacob  Caulk,  Elisha  Freeman,  John  Rose,  Lem- 
uel Walker,  Henry  Traughber,  Allen  Travis,  Kinian  Ingram, 
Thomas  S.  Taylor,  William  Shepard,  James  Shepard,  George 
Hawks,  John  Coppenbarger,  Alexander  Scott,  James  Miller,  Jona- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  49 

than  Flory,  Philip  Ballard,  Alfred  Layman,  Thomas  Johnson, 
Daniel  Shinkle,  Abraham  Shepard,  Isaac  Bigelow  and  Philip  D. 
Williams. 

But  one  of  the  grand  jurors — David  L.  Allin — and  four  of  the 
petit  jurors  are  now  living.  At  the  close  of  the  first  day  the  court 
adjourned  until  six  o'clock  the  next  morning,  at  which  time,  it 
having  no  further  business,  adjourned  until  court  in  course. 

There  would  be  much  of  public  interest  connected  with  a  de- 
tailed analysis  of  the  early  courts  of  this  county,  and  a  more  exten- 
sive notice  of  the  lawyers  who  engaged  in  the  early  practice;  but 
our  limits  forbid.  Many  of  the  illustrious  men  of  this  country,  who 
have  since  become  famous  in  its  politics,  jurisprudence  and.  national 
history,  have  practiced  at  the  Macon  county  bar.  Among  them 
we  mention :  Abraham  Lincoln,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  David 
Davis,  Edward  D.  Baker,  John  A.  McDougall,  Anthony  Thorn- 
ton, Horatio  M.  Vandeveer,  Charles  Emerson,  Leonard  Swett, 
John  T.  Stuart,  U.  F.  Linder,  Josiah  Lamborn  and  Stephen  T. 
Logan. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  the  first  resident  attorney,  and  came  here  in 
the  spring  of  1S34*;  Kirby  Benedict*  was  the  second,  who  came 
here  in  1836;  and  J.  S.  Post  was  the  first  attorney  admitted  to 
practice  from  the  county.*  George  Powers*  and  Jerome  R. 
Gorin*  were  admitted  next  in  order. 


BIOGRAPHIES  OF  COUNTY  OFFICERS. 


COUNTY    JUDGES. 

Daniel  McCall,  J^irsf  County  yudge.  —  Daniel  McCall 
moved  from  Fayette  county  to  Macon  in  the  early  part  of  1829. 
He  was  then  about  thirty-six  years  of  age.  He  was  postmaster  at 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  county,  and  also  held  the  offices 
of  probate  judgis,  circuit  clerk  and  county  clerk  at  the  same  time. 
But  little  is  know^n  of  his  early  history  prior  to  his  coming  to  this 
county,  or  after  he  left  here.  He  was  educated,  and  had  the  ability 
to  be  a  useful  and  influential  member  of  the  community,  but,  unfor- 
tunately, was  very  much  dissipated.     He  left  this  county  and  emi- 


*See  sketch,  chapter  10. 

'    —7 


"--        '        5*^  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

-■■•   -.'; 

•  ••'       ','  '.grated  to   Texas,  and,  as  reported,  died   there;  but  at  what  period 
"'l        '    i'we  have  been  unable  to  learn. 

•..  *    .    ■•■,  •      Charles    Emerson,  Second  County  yudge. — [See   sketch  in 
;  ».  chapter  lo.] 

.^  ■.  ,•        Kirby  Benedict,  Third  County  yudgc. — [See  sketch  in  chap- 

ter lO.] 

,  ^%-''  Dr.  John   G.  Spear,  Fourth    County  Judge. — [See  sketch  in 

chapter  lo.] 

Thomas  H.  Read,  Fifth  County  Judge. — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  lo.] 

William  Prather,  Sixth  County  Judge. — Mr.  P.  was  born 
in  Maryland  about  the  year  iSo6,  and  died  on  the  twenty-ninth 
day  of  August,  1870.  He  was  appointed  circuit  clerk  in  1S47,  and 
elected  to  the  same  office  in  1848,  and  re-elected  in  1852.  In  1850 
he  was  elected  county  judge,  and  retained  that  position  until  1856. 
He  always  had  very  infirm  health. 

John  Rickets,  Seventh  County  Judge. — Mr.  R.  was  born  in 
1814,  in  Lynchburg,  Campbell  county,  Va.  In  1832  he  moved 
with  his  father  to  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1834,  and  loca- 
ted at  Bloomington,  where  he  remained  until  1839,  when  he  came 
to  Decatur.  In  1841  he  removed  to  Monticello,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1847,  and  then  returned  to  Decatur.  Was  a  justice 
of  the  peace  for  a  good  many  years,  and  was  judge  of  the  county 
court  from  1856  to  1861. 

Samuel  F.  Greer,  Fighth  County  Judge. — Mr.  G.  was  born 
in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  September  8,  1824,  and  removed  to 
Macon  county  in  1854.  He  engaged  in  the  sale  of  dry  goods  for 
about  five  years.  He  was  elected  judge  of  the  county  court  in 
1 86 1,  and  has  been  re-elected  at  the  expiration  of  each  term  since. 
Has  also  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  and  has  held 
other  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility. 

circuit  clerks. 
D.  McCall,  First  Circuit  Clerk. — [See  sketch  above.] 

H.  M.  Gorin,  Second  Circuit  Clerk. — Mr.  Gorin  was  born 
October  14,  1812,  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1831 
or  '32,  and  was  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  from  1834  or  '40 — having 
been   appointed   in   the   place   of  D.  McCall,  discharged — and  was 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  5I 

-■/  O      - 

clerk  of  the  county  court  from    1837  to  1840.     He  removed  from  ^.  ^  v-^ 

Macon   county,  in    1840,  to  Scotland   county,  Mo.,  where  he  was  ^  ^  I  ^  " 

afterwards   elected  clerk   of  the   circuit   court,  and  where  he  now  i^."  y  ^^ 
resides.     He   married    Mary   Ann    Love,    and    was    a    brother    of  V 


1?  '  1— 


Jerome  R.  Gorin,  of  Decatur.  ■  > '  ^^ 

N.  W.  Peddicord,  T/iird  Circuit  Clerk.— Mr.  Peddicord  \  ^  -^ 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Maryland,  and  removed  to 
Macon  county  in  1S36,  where  he  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  Adam- 
son  &  Prather,  and  afterwards  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Joseph 
Stickel  in  merchandising.  He  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  to  succeed  Mr.  Gorin,  in  1840,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  1847,  and  was  also  clerk  of  the  county  court  from  1840  to 
1846.  He  removed  from  Macon  county  and  became  a  resident  of 
Missouri,  California  and  Iowa.  He  died  in  the  latter  state  about 
1870. 

William  Prather,  Fourth  Circuit  Clerk. — [See  above,  as 
county  judge.] 

Joseph  Q.  A,  Odor,  Fifth  Circuit  Clerk. — Mr.  Odor  was  born 
May  30,  1827,  in  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Macon 
county  in  April,  1S52,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  teaching 
school  until  1854,  when  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  under 
Stephen  M.  Whitehouse.  He  was  elected  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  in  1856,  and  served  four  years.  In  1861  he  became  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Milliken  &  Odor,  in  the  banking  business,  and  con- 
tinued until  1863,  when  he  went  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and 
again  engaged  in  banking.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Macon  county, 
and  resumed  business  here  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Smiths, 
Hammer  &  Co.,  and  afterwards,  upon  the  dissolution  of  that  firm, 
became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Rucker,  Hammer  &  Co.,  which 
position  he  now  holds. 

William  L.  Hammer,  Sixth  Circuit  Clerk. — William  L. 
Hammer,  the  sixth  circuit  clerk  of  Macon  county,  was  born  Nov. 
2,  181 7,  in  Winchester,  Clark  county,  Kentucky,  and  came  from 
Kentucky  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in  1827.  From  there  he 
removed  to  that  part  of  Shelby  county,  now  Christian  county,  in 
1837,  and  thence  to  1/Iacon  county  in  1854.  In  i860  he  was  elected 
circuit  clerk  of  Macon  county,  and  was  re-elected  in  1864,  serving 
two    full    terms   with    entire    satisfaction  to  his    constituents.     On 


52  HISTORY    OF    MACOX     COUNTY. 

retiring  from  office  he  became  a  director,  and  subsequently  presi- 
dent, of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Decatur,  and  on  the  liquida- 
tion of  that  institution  he  became  senior  member  of  the  banking 
house  of  Rucker,  Hammer  &  Co.  He  was  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Decatur  in  1S69,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Deca- 
tur school  district  from  1S65  to  1S74,  and  was  largely  instrumental 
in  the  erection  of  the  elegant  and  commodious  school  buildings 
that  are  a  pride  to  the  citizens  of  Decatur.  Mr.  H.,  in  his  business 
and  official  relations,  has  been  gentlemanly  and  upright.  In  his 
social  and  domestic  relations  he  is  kind  and  indulgfent. 

E.  McClellan,  Seventh  Circuit  Clerk. — Mr.  McClellan  was 
born  October,  1S18,  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1835.  He  was  elected  sheriff  in  1856,  and  served  two 
years.  He  was  city  marshal  from  1863  to  1865.  He  was  elected 
circuit  clerk  in  1868,  and  re-elected  in  1872,  and  again  in  1876,  and 
also  served  as  deputy  clerk,  under  Mr.  Hainmer,  for  three  years. 
He  married  Judith  Snyder,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1835  or 
'6,  and  removed  to  Macon  county  in  1834. 

COUNTY    CLERKS. 

D.  McCall,  First  Coitnty  Clerk. — [See  county  judge  above.] 

H.  M.  Gorin,  Second  County  Clerk. — [See  circuit  clerk  above.] 

N.  W.  Peddicord,  Third  County  Clerk. — [See  circuit  clerk 
above.] 

E.  B.  Hale,  Fourth  County  Clerk. — Mr.  Hale  was  a  son  of 
Philo  Hale,  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  work.  He  is  a  resident 
of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  is  tha  owner  of  a  large  amount  of  land  in 
Macon  county  which  was  entered  by  his  father,  and  is  said  to  be 
wealthy.  We  have  applied  to  Mr.  H.  for  information  regarding 
his  father's  and  his  own  history,  but  have  received  no  response. 

Warner  W.  Oglesby,  Fifth  County  Clerk. — Mr.  O.  was 
born  October  i,  181 7,  in  Kentucky.  He  held  the  office  of  county 
clerk  from  1847  to  1856.  He  died  on  the  twenty-second  day  of 
August,  i860.  He  held  other  positions  of  trust,  and  was  loved 
and  respected  by  all. 

Samuel  Rea,  Sixth  County  Clerk. — [See  sketch  in  chapter  10.] 
I.  C.  PuGH,  Seventh  County  Clerk. — [See  sketch  in  chapter  10.] 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


53 


H.  W.  Waggoner,  Eighth  County  Clerk. —  Mr.  W.  was  born 
November  9,  1835,  '"  Pei"ry  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  removed 
to  Chicago  in  1855,  and  a  short  time  afterwards  to  Macon  county. 
He  was  deputy  county  clerk  from  1855  to  1866,  and  in  1869  was 
elected  clerk  of  that  court,  and  was  re-elected  in  1873. 


SHERIFFS. 


^William  Warnick,  First  Sheriff.— \SeQ  sketch  in  chapter  10.] 
John   McMennamy,  Second  Sheriff. — [See  sketch  in  chapter 

James  Stevens,  Third  Sheriff. — [See  sketch  in  chapter  10,] 
William  Wheeler,  Fourth  Sheriff". — [See  sketch  in  chapter 

Samuel  Re  a,  Fifth  Sheriff. — [See  sketch  in  chapter  10.] 

Stephen  M.  Whitehouse,  Sixth  Sheriff. — Mr.  W.  was  born 
February  8,  183 1,  in  Washington  county,  Virginia,  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1846,  and  located  in  this  county.  He  married  Mary  E. 
Falconer,  March  7,  1850,  and  was  elected  sheriff  in  the  fall  of 
1854,-  and  sei'ved  two  years.  He  removed  to  Kansas  in  1869, 
where  he  died,  December  6,  1875. 

E.  McClellan,  Seventh  Sheriff. — [See  sketch  as  circuit  clerk.] 

George  Goodman,  Eighth  Sheriff. — Mr.  Goodman  was  born 
in  Coles  county,  Indiana,  in  1823,  and  came  to  this  state  in  1836, 
and  located  on.  the  Okaw,  in  what  is  now  Moultrie  county,  but 
then  a  part  of  Macon.  He  came  to  Decatur  in  1837,  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Macon  county  in  i860,  and  served  two  years,  and  has 
been  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  seventeen  years.  Me  says,  in  his 
early  days  he  was  a  most  excellent  shoemaker. 

John  W.  Bear,  Ninth  Sheriff. — Mr.  B.  was  born  about  1830, 
in  Mechanicsburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  spring 
of  1854.  He  was  elected  sheriff  in  1863,  and  served  two  years, 
and  also  served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council,  and  was  a  justice 
of  the  peace.     He  is  now  a  resident  of  Wichita,  Kansas. 

A.  A.Murray,  Tenth  Sheriff. — Mr.  M.  was  born  in  1832,  in 
Jefferson  county,  New  York.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in  1847,  ^"^ 
located  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  five  years,  and 
then  went  to  Bloommgton  and  remamed  four  years,  and  came  to 
Decatur,    Illinois,    in    1857.     Was    elected    sheriff  in    1864,    since 


54 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments. 

John  E.  Jones,  Eleventh  Sheriff. — Mr.  Jones  was  born  in 
Madison  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1854,  and 
was  in  the  army  during  the  late  war.  After  his  return  he  engaged 
in  merchandising  for  a  short  time,  and  was  elected  sheriff  in  1S67, 
and  served  one  term.     He  died  in  Decatur  in  August,  1870. 

James  Travis,  Twelfth  Sheriff". — Was  born  in  Kentucky 
about  1810.  He  removed  to  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  and 
thence  to  Macon  county,  where  he  was  elected  sheriff  in  1868,  and 
served  for  one  term.  In  1873  he  removed  to  Grand  Rapids,  Michi- 
gan.    His  present  residence  unknown. 

George  M.  Wood,  Thirteenth  Sheriff. — Mr.  W.  was  born  in 
Hart  county,  Kentucky,  in  May,  1828,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1835, 
and  settled  in  Greene  county.  He  remained  there  until  1849,  and 
went  to  Texas  and  staid  two  years.  Thence  he  returned  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  in  Springfield,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1854, 
and  engaged  in  the  sale  of  dry  goods.  He  was  elected  sheriff  in 
November,  1870,  and  served  two  years,  and  was  then  appointed 
deputy  under  Mr.  Jennings,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until 
November,  1875,  when  he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  which 
position  he  now  holds. 

I.  D.  Jennings,  Fotirteenth  Sheriff. — Mr.  J.  was  born  July  10, 
1825,  in  Somerset  county.  New  Jersey,  where  the  rocks  are  so 
thick  that  the  noses  of  the  sheep  are  compelled  to  be  sharpened 
before  they — the  sheep — can  subsist  on  the  grass  that  grows  be- 
tween the  rockg^  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1850,  and  located  at  Jack- 
sonville, where  he  remained  until  1853,  when  he  came  to  Decatur. 
He  was  elected  sheriff  in  1872,  and  served  two  years,  and  was  re- 
elected in  1874,  and  also  served  as  deputy  under  Sheriff  ^Vood. 
He  was  city  marshal  from  1867  to  1870. 

Martin  Forstmeyer,  Tifteeftth  Sheriff. — Was  born  in  South 
Bavaria,  March  21,  1830,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1852,  and 
located  in  Decatur  in  1854.  With  the  exception  of  two  years  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  since  1864,  ^^'^^^ 
was  mayor  of  the  city  of  Decatur  in  1872,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  city  council  from  1862  to  1871.  At  the  recent  election  he  was 
elected  sheriff  by  a  large  majority. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  55 

COUNTY    TREASURERS. 

B.  R.  Austin,  First  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch  in  chap- 
ter lO.] 

John  Miller,  Second  County  Treasurer. — We  have  been 
unable  to  learn  much  of  Mr.  M.  He  was  probably  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  about  fifty  years  of  age  when  he  held  the  office  of 
county  treasurer. 

James  Johnson,  Third  County  Treasurer. — Came  from  Ken- 
tucky to  Macon  county  at  least  as  early  as  1830.*  He  was  county 
treasurer  in  1832  and  '3,  and  was  colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
He  removed  from  Macon  county  to  Pike  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  died — date  unknown. 

Joseph  Hostetler,  Fourth  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch 
in  chapter  10.] 

Joseph  Stevens,  Fifth  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  10,] 

James  Renshaw,  Sixth  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  10.] 

David  Davis,  Seventh  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  10.] 

Henry  Snyder,  EigJith  County  Treasurer — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  10.] 

Thomas  H.  Read,  Ninth  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  10.] 

George  Powers,  Tenth  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  10.] 

Samuel  C.  Allen,  Eleventh  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch 
in  chapter  10.] 

I.  C.  PuGH,  Txvelfth  County  Treasurer. — [See  sketch  in 
chapter  10.] 

William  Cantrill,  Thirteenth  County  Treasurer. — [See 
sketch  in  chapter  10.] 

Ira  B.  Curtis,  Fourteenth  County  Treasurer.— \^ee  sketch  in 
chapter  10.] 

William  M.  Boyd,  Fifteenth  Cotuity  Treasurer. — Mr.  Boyd 
was  born  on  the  thirtieth   of  May,  1842,   in    Warren   county,  Vir 


56  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

ginia,  and  came  to  Decatur,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  i860.  He  was 
elected  county  treasurer  in  the  fall  of  1869,  and  served  two  terms, 
and  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the  city  council  in  1875,  and  has 
been  for  several  years  occupying  an  important  and  responsible 
position  in  the  banking  house  of  Peddecord  &  Burrows. 

R.  H.  Park,  Sixteenth  County  Treasurer. — Mr.  Park  was 
born  November  11,  1S33,  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky;  came  to 
Illinois,  March,  186 1;  settled  in  Macon  county;  was  elected  treas- 
urer in  1873,  and  served  two  years. 

George  M.  Wood,  Seventeenth  County  Treasurer. — [See 
sketch  as  sheriff,  above.] 

state's  attorneys.* 

D.  L.  BuNN,  Ninth  State''s  Attorney. — D.  L.  Bunn,  "  was  born 
on  the  banks  of  the  raging  Okaw,"  as  he  strenuously  insists,  McLean 
county,  111.,  on  the  27th  day  of  September,  1837,  ^"^  came  to  Macon 
county  in  1855.  He  was  appointed  prosecuting  attorney  by  Gov. 
Yates,  in  1862,  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term  of  James  P.  Boyd, 
and  was  re-elected  in  1864,  and  served  four  years,  and  then  "retired 
in  good  order."  Mr.  B.,  in  his  official  capacity,  was  regarded  by 
all  as  a  successful  prosecutor,  and  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  office. 

M.  B.  Thompson,  Tenth  States  Attorney. — Mr.  Thompson  was 
born  in  1S33,  in  Vigo  connty,  Indiana,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1856, 
and  settled  in  Urbana,  Champaign  county.  He  was  elected  state's 
attorney  in  186S,  for  the  seventeenth  judicial  circuit,  of  which  Ma- 
con county  formed  a  part  at  that  time. 

Chas.  C.  yicCoMXs^  Eleventh  State'' s  Attorney. — Mr.  McComas 
was  born  in  Jasper  county,  Illinois,  August  10,  1844,  ^^^^  came  to 
Macon  county  in  1861,  where  he  enlisted  and  served  for  three  years 
in  the  army.  After  his  return  he  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  lo 
practice  in  1869,  and  in  1872  was  elected  prosecuting  attorne}'  for 
Macon  county,  being  the  first  elected  for  the  count}'  under  the  con- 
stitution of  1870. 

I,  A.  Buckingham,  Tivelfth  State's  Attorney. — Mr.  Bucking- 
ham was  born  in  Hamilton  county, Ohio,  July  25,  1S40.  He  studied 

*NoTE. — We  are  enabled  to  give  sketcfies  of  the  state's  attorneys  from  1864 
only. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  57 


law  with  Tilden  &  Caldwell  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  1853,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  September, 
1863,  at  which  time  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  Capt.  J.  S. 
Post  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  has  been  in  active  practice  ever 
since.  He  was  appointed  city  attorney  for  the  years  1873,  '4/5  and 
'6,  respectively,  and  in  Nov.,  1876,  was  elected  state's  attorney  for 
Macon  county  for  the  period  of  four  years, 

MASTERS  IN  CHANCERY. 

I.  C.  PuGH,  First  Master  in  Chancery. — [See  sketch  in  chap- 
ter 10.] 

Wm.  a.  Barnes,  Second  Master  i)i  Chancery. — Wm.  A. 
Barnes  was  born  in  Claremont,  Sullivan  county,  N.  H.,  March  15, 
1824,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1853.  He  now  holds  the  positions  of 
president  of  the  board  of  education  of  Decatur,  president  of  the 
public  library  board,  and  president  of  the  Citizens'  Association  of 
Decatur.     Was  Master  in  Chancery  from  18 — to  1864. 

R.  H.  Merriweather,  Third  Master  in  Chancery. — 
Was  born  in  Howard  county,  Md.,  June  33,  1820,  and  came  to  Ma- 
con county  in  1858.  He  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  in  May, 
1S64,  and  continued  to  hold  the  ofHce  until  January,  1S74.  He  was 
deputy  circuit  clerk  for  four  years  under  Hammer,  and  most  of  the 
time  under  McClellan. 

John  A.  Brown,  Fourth  Master  in  Chancery. — John  A.  Brown 
was  born  July  23,  1843,  in  Abington,  Mass.  Removed  from 
that  state,  with  his  father,  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Mis- 
souri in  1857,  and  thence  to  Illinois  in  1S60,  and  to  Decatur,  111., 
in  1865.  Was  connected  with  the  newspapers  at  Decatur,  Illinois, 
for  three  years.  He  then  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and  after 
the  usual  course  of  study  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S76,  and  im- 
mediately entered  into  a  co-partnership  with  F.  B.  Tait  in  the  prac- 
tice of  law  at  Decatur,  He  was  appointed  by  Judge  C.  B.  Smith 
master  in  chancery  of  Jvlacon  county,  in  1873,  and  has  performed 
the  duties  pertaining  to  the  office  faithfully  and  efficiently. 


—8 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 

In  183 1  a  treaty  was  made  by  which  Black  Hawk  and  his  tribes 
of  Indians  were  to  remove  to  the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi  river, 
and  release  all  claim  upon  the  east  side.  Emissaries  of  the  British 
government,  from  Canada,  induced  the  Indians  to  disregard  the 
treaty  and  return  to  their  former  homes  in  Illinois.  On  the  sixth 
day  of  April,  1832,  Black  Hawk,  with  his  followers,  crossed  the 
Mississippi,  bringing  with  them  their  women,  children  and  prop- 
erty. He  announced  that  his  mission  was  peaceful — but  no  doubt 
his  object  was  to  reclaim  the  territor}^  he  had  released  under  the 
treaty  of  the  year  before.  Governor  Reynolds,  learning  of  the 
movement  of  Black  Hawk,  called  for  volunteers  to  repel  the  inva- 
ders. Eighteen  hundred  volunteers,  under  Whiteside  and  Rey- 
nolds, were  mustered  into  service,  and  General  Atkinson  dispatched 
them  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  On  the  twelfth  of  May  they 
reached  Dixon's  ferry,  where  they  were  joined  by  Major  Stillman 
with  275  men.  Stillman  considered  his  command  independent 
of  Whiteside,  and  declined  to  join  Whiteside's  brigade.  Stillman, 
with  Major  Baily,  received  orders  to  go  to  "  Old  Man's  creek," 
now  Stillman's  run,  to  ascertain  the  movements  of  the  Indians. 
The  two  battalions  camped  about  ten  miles  from  the  ferry  on  the 
evening  of  the  thirteenth,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  fourteenth 
Stillman  took  command  of  both  battalions,  and  continued  in  pur- 
suit until  sunset,  when  they  encamped  in  "front  of  a  small  creek" 
(Stillman's  run)  about  thirty  miles  from  Dixon.  Black  Hawk  hearing 
of  their  approach,  sent  out  three  men  to  meet  them  and  take  them 
to  his  camp,  that  a  council  might  be  held;  but  the  men  were  taken 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  59 


prisoners.  Five  others  were  sent  out  for  the  same  purpose,  but 
two  of  them  were  killed.  This  aroused  Black  Hawk,  and  with 
about  forty  men  he  met  the  assailants — the  main  body  of  his  war- 
riors being  about  ten  miles  away — and  routed  them  completely, 
and  in  great  confusion.  Some  of  Stillman's  men,  it  is  said,  did  not 
stojD  until  they  reached  Dixon.  In  the  fight,  Major  Perkins,  Capt. 
Adams,  and  nine  men,  were  killed,  one  of  whom,  James  Milton, 
was  from  Macon  county.  William  Cox,  and  others  from  this 
county,  had  their  horses  shot. 

The  following  is  a  complete  copy  of  the  muster  roll  of  the  com- 
pany from  Macon  county  engaged  in  the  war,  showing  the  names 
of  the  volunteers,  date  of  enlistment,  date  of  discharge,  and  status 
of  company  at  the  time  of  discharge: 

"  Muster  roll  of  Captain  Johnson's  company  of  mounted  volun- 
teers, belonging  to  the  Fifth  regiment,  commanded  by  James 
Johnson,  of  the  brigade  of  mounted  volunteers  of  Illinois  militia, 
commanded  by  Brigadier  General  Samuel  Whiteside.  Mustered 
out  of  service  of  United  States  at  mouth  of  Fox  river,  the  state  of 
Illinois,  on  the  27th  day  of  May,  1832;  distance,  miles,  150  from 
place  of  enrollment. 

[The  date  of  enlistment  of  all  was  April  24,  1832;  and  the  term 
was  35  days.] 

1  Jas.  Johnson,  Captain,  promoted  to  Colonel    16  May,  1832. 

2  William  Warnick,  ist  Lieutenant,  absent  with  leave. 

3  I.  C.  Pugh,  2d  Lieut.,  promoted  to  Captain  16  May,  1832. 

4  J.  D.  Wright,  1st  Sergeant,  absent  on  extra  duty. 

5  James  A.  Ward,  2d  Sergeant,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant. 

6  Walter  Bowls,  3d  Sergeant,  absent  with  leave. 
^7    Joseph  Hanks,  4th  Sergeant. 

8  Henry  M.  Gorin,  1st  Corporal. 

9  S.  R.  Shepard,  2d   Corporal. 

10  G.  Coppenbarger,  3d  Corporal,  absent  with  leave. 

1 1  James  Milton,  4th  Corporal,  killed  in  battle. 

12  Asher  Simpson,  private. 

13  A.  W.  Bell,  private. 

14  Abram   Black,  private. 

15  D.  McCall,  private. 

16  D.  H,  Stewart,  private,  absent  on  exti"a  duty. 

17  Elisha  Butler,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

18  G.  D.  Smallwood,  private. 


6o  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


19  John  Hanks,  private. 

20  Jacob  Lane,  private,  absent  on  extra  duty. 

21  John  Henderson,  private,  absent  w^ith  leave. 

22  James  Querry,  private, 

23  James  Miller,  private. 

24  John  Manly,  private. 

25  James  Ennis;  private,  absent  with  leave. 

26  John  Clifton,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

27  Jesse  Dickey,  private,  wounded  in  battle. 

28  John  Williams,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

29  John  Murph}' ,  private. 

30  Jacob  Black,  absent  with  leave. 

31  James  Herrod,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

32  Kinian  Ingram,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

33  C.  Hooper,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

34  Robert  Smith,  private. 

35  S.  B.  Dewees,  private,  sick. 

36  S.  Miller,  private. 

37  S.  Troxel,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

38  Thos.  Devanport,  private,  absent  with   leave. 

39  William   Hanks,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

40  William   Adams,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

41  William  Miller,  private.  ' 

42  William  Hooper,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

43  William  Cox,  private,  absent  wnth  leave. 

44  Joseph   Clifton,  private,  absent  with  leave. 

I  certify,  on  honor,  that  the  muster  roll  exhibits  the  true  state  of 
the  company  of  mounted  volunteers  under  my  command,  of  the 
Illinois  militia,  of  the  brigade  of  mounted  volunteers  under  the  com- 
mand of  Brigadier  Genefal  Samuel  Whiteside  on  this  day,  and 
that  the  remarks  set  opposite  the  names  of  the  men,  are  accurate 
and  just. 

Signed  Fox  River,  111.,  this  the  27th  day  of  May,  1832. 

I.  C.  PuGH,  Captain, 
Co>nmandi7ig  the  Company^ 

There  was  also  a  company  of  Rangers  organized  during  the 
summer  of  1832,  commanded  by  Captain  William  Warnick.  This 
company  was  out  in  the  vicinity  of  Kickapoo  town  near  the  head 
of  the  Big  Vermilion,  but  found  no  Indians  and  soon  returned. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


61 


THE  MEXICAN  WAR. 

War  was  declared  with  Mexico  in  May,  1846,  and  Illinois,  under 
the  call  for  volunteers,  was  entitled  to  three  regiments.  The  sheriff 
of  Macon  county,  under  the  proclamation  of  Gov.  Ford,  called  for 
the  enlistment  of  volunteers.  Under  this  call  company  C  of  what 
was  afterwards  the  4th  regiment  was  raised,  consisting  of  y8  men. 
When  the  company  reached  Springfield  thirty  companies  had  al- 
ready reported,  and  the  three  regiments  were  full,  E,  D,  Baker*^ 
then  a  prominent  man  of  Illinois,  through  the  influence  of  Hon. 
O.  B.  Ficklin,  our  member  in  Congress,  pi'evailed  on  President 
Polk  to  allow  him  to  raise  a  4th  regiment  from  Illinois,  and  by  this 
means  the  Macon  county  men  entered  the  service,  Mr.  Baker  was 
elected  Colonel,  Lieut.  Gov,  Moore  was  elected  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
and  Thomas  Harrisf  was  elected  Major  of  the  regiment.  The  late 
Gen,  I,  C,  Pugh  was  elected  Captain  of  company  C,  and  Senator 
R.  J.  Oglesby,  ist  Lieutenant;  Anderson  Fromon,  2d  Lieutenant; 
John  P.  Post,  3d  Lieutenant;  Stephen  Osborn,  1st  Sergeant;  G. 
W.  Galbreath,  2d  Sergeant;  B.  F.  Oglesby,  3d  Sergaant;  B,  L, 
Martin,  I  St  Corporal;  James  HoUingsworth,  2d  Corporal;  W.J, 
Usrey,  3d  Corporal;  and  G.  W.  Nelson,  4th  Corporal. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  volunteers : 


Madison  Bradshaw, 
P,  T,  Bebee, 
Laban  Chambers, 
J.  M.  Dickey, 
W.  P.  Davidson, 
James  Greenfield, 
J.  Horner, 
Wm,  Hawks, 
Levi  Hite, 
T,  Johnson, 
H.  Lord, 
J.  C.  Malson, 
I.  Martin, 

Chris.  Mayers, 


G,  M.  Braden, 
A,  Botkin, 
George  Carver, 
G,  W.  Dillow, 
Daniel  Davis, 
David  Huffman, 
D.  Howell, 
M,  M.  Henry, 
John  Henry, 
J,  A,  Lowi-ie, 
Thomas  Lord, 
G,  J.  Malson, 
H.  Martin, 

Chas.  Nelson, 


W,  W.  Chapman, 
G.  W.  Church, 
J.  B.  Case, 
W.  Dean, 
A.  Greenfield, 
Sterne  Helm, 
S.  K.  Harrell, 
W.  D.  B.  Henry, 
I.  Inman, 
J.  C.  Leadbetter, 
A.  B.  Lee, 
Ben.  Martin, 
Wm.  McDaniel, 

Wm.  Nesbitt, 


*Afterwards  Senator  from  Oregon,  Major  General  in  the  late  war,  and  who 
was  killed  at  Ball's  Bluff. 

f  After  whom  Harristown  was  afterwards  named. 


62  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


J.  S.  Post,  J.  Perryman,  S.  Rice, 

James  Rea,  Wm.  Robinson,  E.  Rice, 

J.  Sheppard,  Jason  Sprague,  R.  H.  Stewart, 

D.  G.  Stevens,  W.  E.  Lee,  Dan.  Spangler, 

J.  A.  Shepley,  T.  Souther,  J.  Saunders, 

James  Turner,  F.  E.  Travis,  J.  B.  Travis, 

J.  D.  Travis,  T.  D,  Turncy,  William  Wheeler, 

W.  R.  Wheeler,  Lewis  Ward,  B.  E.  Wells, 

W.  E.  Warnick,  J.  W.  White,  B.  White, 

Robert  Warnick,  James  Freeman,*  J.  M.  Arwood, 

Richard  Barnwell,  Miles  Bosworth,  Jesse  Butler, 

David  Bailer. 

Company   C   marched  from   Decatur  to  Springfield  about    the 
middle  of  June,  1S46,  where  the  regiment  was  formed.     After  re- 
maining at   SjDringfield   a  short   time,   the   regiment    marched    to 
Alton,  where  arms  were  in  store,  which  the  regiment  procured  by 
a  little  maneuvering  on  the  part  of  Col.  Baker  and  Capt.  J.  S.  Post. 
Col.  J.  J.  Hardin,  believing   that   he   was  entitled   to  these   arms, 
stoutly  protested  against  their  appropriation  by  Col.  Baker,  and  a 
woi'dy  warfare  ensued  which  came  near  resulting  in  a  duel.    From 
Alton  the    regiment  was    transferred   to   Jefferson   Barracks,   and 
there  placed   under  charge   of  Col.  Churchill,  commandant,  under 
w^hom  it  received   thorough   discipline  and  drill.     About  the  20th 
of  July  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  service  by  Col.  Crogan,  of 
Fort  Meigs  notoriety.     In  a  few  days  the  regiment  received  orders 
and  .embarked   for   New  Orleans,  and   thence   to  Brazos,  Santiago 
Bay,  four  miles  north  of  the  mouth   of  the  Rio   Grande,  where  it 
disembarked.      After  remaining   at  this  point  for   about   a   week, 
orders   were   received  to    march   up   the   Rio   Grande  eight  miles, 
where  occurred   the    first  death   in   Co.  C,  viz:  Second    Sergeant 
George  Galbreath.     As  Col.  Baker   and   a  squad   of  twelve  men, 
all   from   Macon   county,  detailed   to  bury  Mr   G.,  were    about  to 
return  to  camp,  they  heard  a  disturbance  on  board    of  a  steamboat 
near  by,  and  on  arriving  at  the   scene,  they  learned   that  an  Irish 
company,  in  a  drunken    melee,  had  driven  from  the  boat  the   Ken- 
nesaw  rangers.     Baker  ordered  his  handful   of  men  on  the  boat  to 
quell  the  disturbance;  but  no  sooner  had  he  done    so,  than  a  hand- 


*Joined  the  company  at  Brazos. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  63 


to-hand  encounter  ensued,  in  which  the  colonel  and  his  squad  were 
soon  overpowered  and  compelled  to  retire:  but  not  without  loss. 
Col.  Baker  received  a  rapier  thrust,  penetrating  his  mouth  and  ex- 
tending through  the  back  of  his  neck;  Capt.  J.  S.  Post  was 
wounded  in  the  breast,  having  a  rib  broken;  Charles  Dillow,* 
killed;  R.  H.  Stewart,  bayoneted  in  the  thigh;  and  seven  others  of 
the  squad  more  or  less  injvn-ed.  At  this  point  orders  were  received 
to  move  still  further  up  the  river  to  Matamoras,  on  the  Mexican 
side,  where  they  remained  a  few  days,  and  then  moved  on  to 
Camargo,  where  a  great  deal  of  sickness  ensued.  Returning  to 
Matamoras,  they  then  marched  to  Victoria— marching  on  Christ- 
mas day  forty-five  miles.  x\bout  the  first  of  January,  1847,  orders 
were  received  to  March  to  Tampico,  two  hundred  miles  distant,  at 
which  place  preparations  were  made  for  an  attack  on  Vera  Cruz. 
Taking  ship  at  Tampico  about  the  first  of  February,  Vera  Cruz 
was  reached  in  sixteen  days,  and  Company  C  assisted  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  batteries  and  the  bombardment  of  the  city,  which 
surrendered  March  29.  After  the  taking  of  the  city  of  Vera 
Cruz,  Scott's  army  marched  for  the  City  of  Mexico,  and  en  route 
met  Santa  Anna,  at  the  mountain  pass  of  Cerro  Gordo,  on  the 
eighteenth  of  April,  where  a  battle  was  fought.  Company  C  had 
but  forty-eight  men  in  this  engagement,  two  of  whom  were  killed 
and  ten  wounded.  The  killed  were  J.  C.  Malson  and  George 
Nelson. 

At  this  battle  Santa  Anna  came  near  being  taken  prisoner,  and 
in  his  effort  to  escape  left  in  his  carriage  $25,000  in  silver  and  his 
cork  leg,  which  were  captured  by  Company  C,  it  being  at  the 
head  of  the  brigade.  The  next  morning  ensuing  the  battle.  Gen. 
Scott  followed  on  to  Jalapa,  where  Company  C  remained  about  a 
month,  when  the  time  of  enlistment  expired,  and  the  company 
returned  via  New  Orleans  and  vSt.  Louis,  arriving  at  home  about 
the  first  of  June,  1S47,  bringing  with  them  the  banner  received 
from  the  citizens  on  their  departure.  They  were  very  enthusiastic- 
ally received.  A  grand  barbecue  was  prepared  for  the  returning 
volunteers,  and  day  of  general  rejoicing  was  had,  still  remembered 
with  satisfaction  by  the  participants. 

*His  last  words  were:  "  If  I  have  got  to  go,  the  road  to  heaven  is  just  as 
near  from  here  as  from  Macon  county." 


64  HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 

THE    LATE    WAR. 

It  is  unnecessary  in  this  connection,  and,  in  met,  would  consume 
entirely  too  much  space,  to  give  any  details  as  to  the  causes  of  the 
rebellion.  It  is  our  purpose,  rather,  to  give  Macon  county's  record, 
as  complete  as  we  can,  in  the  suppression  of  that  rebellion.  The 
long  list  of  names  following,  of  those  who  were  sacrificed  on  the 
altar  of  their  country,  will  sufficientlv  attest  the  patriotic  impulses 
that  actuated  our  people,  and  convince  the  most  casual  observer 
that  Macon  county,  when  called,  was  at  her  post  and  performed 
her  whole  duty  valiantly. 

In  the  succeeding  pages  of  this  chapter  we  give  a  brief  synopsis 
of  the  principal  engagements  of  the  various  regiments,  together 
with  a  regimental  and  company  roster,  and  the  names,  date  of 
enlistment,  discharge,  etc.,  of  those  only  who  enlisted  from  the 
county. 

SEVENTH    ILLINOIS    CAVALRY. 

The  7th  Cavalry  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  and 
mustered  into  service  Oct.  13,  1861.  The  companies  A,  C,  I  and 
G  were  directly  ordered  to  Bird's  Point,  Missouri,  where  the  other 
eight  companies  arrived  on  the  25th  of  December.  Some  time  in 
January,  all,  except  companies  B,  C,  I  and  L,  moved  to  Cape  Gir- 
ardeau, Mo.  Company  I,  to  which  most  of  the  men  from  Macon 
county  belonged,  remained  at  Bird's  Point,  and  were  engaged  in 
scouting  during  the  winter.  At  New  Madrid  the  regiment  again 
united.  Was  at  Island  No.  10.  After  this  moved  to  Hamburg  Land- 
ing, Tennessee  river,  thence  in  the  direction  of  Corinth.  Was  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  luka,  and  afterwards  at  Corinth,  Oct  2d,  3d 
and  4th.  Nov.  23,  seven  companies  met  Richardson  near  Somer- 
ville;  Dec.  i,  assigned  to  Col.  Dickey's  command  of  cavalrv.  At 
Holly  Springs,  Miss.;  followed  Price  as  far  south  as  Coffeeville  and 
retreated.  In  Western  Tenneessee.  On  the  17th  of  April,  started 
on  "  Grierson's  Raid  "  to  Baton  Rouge.  Dec.  26th,  the  regiment 
fougfht  the  entire  force  of  Forrest.  In  an  engfagfement  at  AIoscow, 
Tenn.  Moved  to  Decatur,  Ala.  Returned  to  Nashville,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  service,  and  received  its  final  pay  and  discharge  at 
Camp  Butler,  111,,  Nov.  17,  1865.  Its  period  of  service  was  about 
four  years  and  three  months. 


I 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  65 


ROSTER  SEVENTH  CAVALRY— COMPANY  "  I." 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

COLONELS. 

W.  p.  Kellogg,  Sept.  8,  1861.    Resigned  June  i,  1862. 

Edward  Prince,  June  i, '62.        Tm.  exp'd  Oct.  15, '64,  was  Lt.  Col. 

John  M.  Graham,  Mar.   i,'65.     Must'd  out  Nov.  4,  '65,  was  Maj. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONELS. 

W  D.  Blackburn,  Feb.  10,  '63.    Died  of  wounds  May  17,  '63. 

Geo.  W.  Trafton,  Mar.  17,  '63.  Dismissed  Nov.  4,  '64. 

H.  C.  Forbes,  Mar.   i,  '65.  Must'd  out  Nov.  4,  65,  was  Maj. 

MAJORS. 

Cyrus  Hall,  Sept.  21,  '61.  Res.  for  promotion  Feb,  9,  '62. 

Jas.  Rawalt,  Sept.  21,  '61.  Res.  June  10,  '62. 

Z.  Applington,  Nov.  13,  '61.  Killed  in  battle  May  15,62. 

Henry  Case,  Feb.  i,  '62.  Resigned  Apr.  4,  '62. 

H.  C.  Nelson,  April  24,  '62.  Resigned  June  22,  '63. 

A.  P.  Koehler,  May.  15,  '62.  Resigned  May  14,  '63. 

A.W.  MDconald,  June  22,  '63.  Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

Geo.  A.  Root,  May  10,  '65.  Must'd  out  Nov.  4,'65,  was  Adjt. 

M.  G.  Wiley,  May  10,  '65.  Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

ADJUTANTS. 

Henry  Stockdale,  Jan.  30  '62.      Mustered  out  May  26,'62. 
Allen  W.  Heald,  May  10,  ^6y    Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65, 

BATTALION    ADJUTANTS. 

Geo.  Bestor,  Jan.  15.  Mustered  out '62. 

Chas.  Wills,  Jan.  15.  Mustered  out  '62. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

W.  A.  Dickerson,  Oct.  25, '61.     Mustered  out  May  26,  '62. 
J.R.W.  Hinchman,Oct.  28,'62.  Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

BATTALION  QUARTERMASTERS. 

Jas.  T.  Myers,  Dec.  25,  '62.         Mustered  out  '62. 

John  W.  Resor,  Dec.  25,  '61.      Mustered  out  May  26,  '62. 

—9 


66  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

JVame,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

SURGEONS. 

C.  D.  Rankin,  Oct.  28,  '61.         Resigned  Jan.  i.  '62. 

Daniel  Stahl,  Sept.  9,  '62.  Discharged  Sept  9,  '64. 

Thos.  J.  Riggs,  Sept.  16,  '64.       Must,  out  Nov.  4,  '65,  was  ist  Ast. 

FIRST    ASSISTANT  SURGEON. 

Chas.  H.  Novell,  April  3,  "^6^.      Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

SECOND  ASSISTANT  SURGEON. 

A.  G.  Gilbert,  May  29,  '63.         Discharged  Sept.  5,  '64. 
M.  W.  Nesmith,  Apr.  16,  '65.     Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  65. 

CHAPLAIN. 

Simon  G.  Meinor,  Oct.  3,  '61.     Term  expired  Oct  15,  '64. 

COMMISSARIES. 

H.  F.  Barker,  Oct.  i,  '62.  Term  expired  Oct  15,  '64. 

Daniel  F.  Robbins,  Oct.  4,  '64.  Mustered  oiit  Nov.  4,  '65. 

CAPTAINS. 

A.J.  Gallagher,  Aug.  16,  '61.    Resigned  June  20,  '62. 

Wm.  Ashmead,  Jnne  20,  '62.      Term  expired  Oct.  15,  '64;  was  2d 

[Lieutenant. 
Byron  H.  Tuller,  Nov.  28,  '65.   Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

Wm.  H.  Stratton,  Aug.  19,  '61.  Term  expired  Oct.  15,  '65. 
Horace  K.  Rice,  May  28,  '65.     Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

S.  G.  Washburn,  June  20,  '62.     Term  expired  Oct.  4,  '64. 
O.  L.  Kendall,  June  28,  '65.        Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Clark,   Wm.  F.,  Sept.  3,  '61.       Killed  in  action  Mar.  i,  '62. 

QUARTERMASTER  SERGEANT. 

Flattery,  Geo.,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 

SERGEANTS. 

Haworth,  Jno.  W.,  Sept.  3, '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  67 

N'ame^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Ruby,  Matthew,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 
Gardner,  Geo.  H.,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 
Washburn,  S,  G.,  Sept.  3,  '61.     Promoted  2d  Lieut. 

CORPORALS. 

Dickson,  Archb'ld,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Dunbar,  Daniel  H.,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 
Kaylor,  Geo.  W.,  Sept.  3,  '61.     Killed  in  action  May  i,  '62. 
Ashmead,  Marion,  Sept.  3,  '61.     Killed  in  action  May  30,  '62. 
McComas,  W.  D.,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Discharged  Dec.  i,  '62. 
Jordan,  Abner  H.,  Sept.  2,  *6i.    Killed  in  action  May  30,  '62. 
Varney,  Thad.  P.,  Sept  3,  '61.    Mustered  out  Sept.  8,  '64. 
Hilt,  Wm,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 

BUGLERS. 

King,  Davis  T.,  Sept  3,  '61.         Promoted  chief  bugler. 
Strong,  Jos.  J.,  Sept  3,  '61.  Promoted  Chief  bugler. 

FARRIER. 

Furr,  Argyle  W.,  Sept.  3,  '61.     Mustered  out  Oct.  15, '64. 

BLACKSMITH. 

Fornof,  Geo.,  Sept.  3.  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 

WAGONER. 

Deal,  Wm.,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  John  O.,  Sept.  3, '61.      Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Bohrer,  John,  Sept.  3,  '61.        '   Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '65. 
Belknap,  C.  M.,  Sept.  3,  '61.       Re-enlisted    as    veteran;    mustered 

[out  Nov.  4,  '65,  as  sergeant. 
Bartlett,  Robt.,  Sept,  3,  '61. 

Beals,  Luther,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Discharged  Oct.,  '62. 

Calhoun,  Webster,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 
Calhoun,  David,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Cornwell,  Isaac  P.,  Sept.  3, '61.  Re-enlisted    as    veteran;    mustered 

[out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Clark,  Geo.,  Sept.  3, '61.  Re-enlisted    as    veteran;    mustered 

[out  Nov.  4,  '65. 


68 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JVame,  and  date  of  Rank. 
Dugan,  Chas.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 

Dugger,  Wm.  A.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Doner,  Wm.  H.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Dawson,  Eb.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Dickson,  Geo.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Earles,  Walter,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Fletcher,  Geo.  W.,  Sept.  3, '61. 
GIbbs,  Ed.  M.,  Sept.,  3,  '61. 
GofF,  Chas.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Grove,  Wm.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 

Grady,  Henry,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Hartman,  Jno.  P.,  Sept.  3, '61. 
Hopkins,  Chas.  P.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Hays,  John,  Sept.  3, '61. 
Haworth,  Frank,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Hafrau,  Jas.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Jones,  Jas.  M.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Jones,  John  S.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Kendall,  O.  L.,  Sept.  3, '61. 

Knipple,  Henry,  Sept.  3,  '61. 

Ledbetter,  Jas.  C,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Martin,  Wm.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 

Martin,  Henry,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
May,  Marion,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Myers,  Henry,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
McRay  or  McKay,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Melville,  Edward,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
Miller,  Lawrence,  Sept.  3,  '61. 

McElroy,  Jas.,  Sept.  3, '61. 
McDougal,  J.  R.,  Sept.  3,  '61. 
McCay,  Thos.,  Sept.  3,  '61-. 


Remarks. 

Re-enlisted    as   veteran;   mustered 

[ont  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Oct.  15, '64. 
Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Must'd  out  Oct.  15,  '64,  as  sergt. 
Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 

Discharged   April  8,  '63,  as  corp'l. 
Must'd  out  Oct.  15,  '64,  as  sergt. 
Discharged  March  4,  '62. 
Re-enlisted   as    veteran;   mustered 

[out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '65. 
Discharged  July,  '62. 

Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 
Died  Andersonville,  Aug.  10,  '64. 
Died  Andersonville,  July  23,  '64. 
Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 
Must'd  out  Oct.  15, '64,  as  serg't. 
Re-enlisted  as  veteran,  private,  ser- 

[geant,  then  lieutenant. 
Re-enlisted    as   veteran;    mustered 

[out  Nov.  4,  '65,  as  corporal. 
Discharged  July,  '63, 
Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  mustered  out 

[Nov.  4,  '65. 
Discharged  Oct.,  '62. 
Discharged  Dec,  '62. 
Transferred  to  Co.  M. 
Must'd  out  Oct.  15,  '64,  as  corpr'l. 

Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  mustered   out 

[Nov.  4,  '65,  as  sergeant. 
Died  of  wounds  received  in  camp. 
Discharged  April  6,  '63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  69 


Name,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Nicholson,  Jas.,  Sept.  3, '61.         Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 

[Nov.  4,  '65. 
Nicholson,  Jas.  P.,  Sept.  3,  '6i.    Discharged  May,  '62. 
Powers,  John,  Sept.  3, '61.  Died  wounds  received   Dec.  5, '62. 

Powers,  Michael,  Sept.  3, '61.     Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  mustered  out 

[Nov.  4,  '65,  as  veteran. 

Paine,  Robert  S.,  Sept.  3,  '61.      Mustered  out  Oct.  4,  '64. 

Riley,  Wm.,  Sept.  3,  '6i.  Mustered  o«t  Oct.  15,  '64. 

Ruby,  Henry,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  mustered   out 

[Nov.  4,  '65,  as  corporal. 

Rice,  Horace  K.,  Sept.  3,  '61.      Promoted  serg't,  then  ist  lieut. 

Sullivan,  M.,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65,  as  corp. 

Tuller,  Byron  H.,  Sept.  3, '61.     Promoted  to  captain. 

Smith,  Cyrus  B.,  Sept.  3,  '61.       Discharged  Jan.,  '62. 

Stookey,  Jno.  A.,  Sept.  3,  '61.      Died  Feb.  11,  '62. 

Smythe,  Chas.  E.,  Sept.  3,  '61.    Mustered  out  Sept.  20,  '65. 

Temple,  Pulaski  L.,Sept.  3, '61.  Discharged  Sept.,  '62. 

Tater,  Henry,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Discharged  April   16,  '63. 

Taber,  Augustus  A.,  Sept.  3, '61.  Private  hospital  steward,  U.  S.  A. 

Thomas,  Jno.  R.,  Sept.  3,  '61.     Mustered  out  Aug.  29,  '64. 

Vancourt,  Jno.  D.,  Sept.  3, '61.    Disch'd  April  30,  '62,  as  corporal. 

Weatherby,  W.  D.,Sept.  3,  '61.  Discharged  July,  '62. 

WiUiams,  Chas.,  Sept.  3,  '61.      Discharged  July,  '62. 

Wood,  Geo.  W.,Sept.  3,  '61.       Mustered  out  Oct.  15,  '64. 

Webb,  Edward  S.,  Sept,  3, '61.  Discharged  Sept.,  '62. 

Westfall,  Chas.,  Sept.  3,  '61.       Discharged  May,  '62. 

Walters,  Jas.  L,,  Sept.  3,  '61.       Discharged  Mar.  4,  '62. 

Yopes,  Simon,  Sept.  3,  '61.  Mustered  out  Sept.  8,  '64. 


RECRUITS. 


Arbuckle,  Jno.  H.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  July  12,  '65. 
Adams,  David,  Dec.  22, '63.         Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Able,  Dempsey,  Dec.  15,  '63.      Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Ater,  Wm.  H.,  Sept.  3,  '61.         Died  Nov.  14,  '63. 
Anderson,  Jacob,  Aug.  12, '62. 

Bradley,  Worth  R.,  Feb.  2, '64.  Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Rockway,  D.  S.,  Jan.  24,  '64.  Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Boddy,  Robert,  Dec.  14,  '63.  Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Carmean,  Robt.,  Dec.  14,  '63.     Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 


70 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JVame,  and  date  of  Ratik. 

Carmean,  G.  W.,  Dec.  i8,  '63, 
Daniels,  Jas.  W.,  Jan.  39,  '64, 
Dunston,  J.  O.,  Jan.  4, '64. 
Daily,  Jno.,  March  18,  '64. 
Dunston,  Chas.,  Jan.  4,  '64. 

Earles,  Edwai-d,  Jan.  30,  '64. 
Emerson,  Jerome,  Feb.  y,  '65. 
Gregerty,  John,  Jan.  27,  '64. 
Gibbs,  Jas.  A.,  Jan,  15,  '64. 
Hall,  Eugene,  Dec.  10,  '63. 
Holman,  VVm.,  Jan.  26,  '64. 
Hoffman,  Peter,  Jan.  10,  '64. 
Holman,  And.  J.  Feb,  9,  '64. 

Lawson,  T-aylor,  Jan.  16,  '64. 
Lehn,  Wilson,  April  25,  '64. 
Martin,  Henry,  Dec.  15,  '63. 
McDougal,  Jno.  R,,Jan.4,  '64. 
McCune,  Martin,  Dec.  19,  '63. 
May,  Theodore,  Dec.  19,  '63. 
Pate,  Robert,  April,  7,  '64. 
Ruby,  Horace  S.,  Jan.  30,  '64. 
Rea,  John  T.,  Jan.  i,  '64. 
Reed,  Elhannan,  April  i,  '64. 
Reedy,  Jas.  A.,  Jan.  26,  '64. 
Scott,  Wm.  F.,  Dec,  31,  '63. 
Shinneman,  A.  T,,  Feb.  13, '64. 
Stookey,  H.  L.,  Jan.  30,  '64. 
Smith,  Wm.,  Dec,  11,  '63. 

Stewart,  Wm.  C,  Mar,  20,  '64. 

Wood,  James,  April  16,  '64. 
Williams,  Chas.,  Jan.  25,  '64. 
Webber  Philip,  Feb.  i,  '64, 
Wood,  Geo.  W,,  Feb.  9,  '65. 
Young,  Geo.,  Mar.  24,  '64. 


Rrniarks. 

Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Must'd  out  Nov.  4,  '65,  as  sergt. 
Mustered  out  Nov,  4,  '65, 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Died  at  LaGrange,  Tenn.,  July  14, 

['64,  wounded. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4.  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Must'd  out  Nov.  4,  '64,  as  corp. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov,  4,  '65. 
Must'd  out  Nov.  4,  '65,  as  corp. 
Died   at   Memphis,  Tenn;  June  9, 

[1864. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  June  5,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4.  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov,  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 

Must'd  out  Nov.  4,  '65,  as  corp. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Absent,  sick    at   mustering  out  of 

[regiment. 
Absent,   sick    at  mustering   out  of 

[regiment. 

Vet, ;  mustered  out  Nov.  4,  ''6^. 
Discharged  Dec.  8,  '65, 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 
Mustered  out  Nov.  4,  '65. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


71 


JVame^  and  date  of  Rank.  Re7narks. 

UNASSIGNED  RECRUITS. 

Dorris,  Jas.,  Jan.  26,  '64. 

Daniels,  Jas.,  Feb.  12,  '64. 

Earles,  Chas.  W.,  April  7,  '64.  Rejected. 

Glove,  Alonzo  M.,  Jan.  27,  '64.  Discharged  May  10,  '64. 

Saunders,  Forest,  Jan.  23,  '64.     Discharged  July  2,  '64. 

Scott,  Win.  F.,  Dec.  21,  '63. 

Wilson,  Wm.  H.,  Mar.  9,  '65.     Discharged  May  1 1,  '65. 

White,  Wm.  D.,  Mar.  7,  '65. 

EIGHTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  on  the  25th  day  of  April,  i86i,for 
the  three  months  service,  Col.  R.  J.  Oglesby  commanding.  Sta- 
tioned at  Cairo  until  mustered  out,  at  close  of  term.  Re-orsfanized 
for  three  years  service;  moved  to  Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  Feb.  2,  1862; 
embarked  for  Tennessee  river;  engaged  enemy  near  Ft.  Henry; 
attacked  Ft.  Donelson  about  middle  of  Feb.,  where  most  valuable 
service  was  rendered,  and  where  serious  loss  was  sustained.  Maj. 
John  P.  Post  was  taken  prisoner  in  this  battle.  Was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Shiloh.  Actively  participated  at  the  seige  of  Cor- 
inth, where  Col.  Oglesby  was  dangerously  wounded  and  borne 
from  the  field  in  expectation  of  immediate  death.  Met  enemy  at 
Raymond.  Sent  to  Camp  Butler  in  '64,  on  veteran  furlough.  Af- 
terwards the  regiment  was  in  Western  Tennessee,  Mississippi  and 
Louisiana.  Mustered  out  of  service  at  Baton  Rouge,  May  4,  1866. 
Ordered  to  Springfield  for  final  payment  and  discharge,  where  it 
arrived  May  13,  1866. 

ROSTER  EIGHTH  ILL.  INFANTRY.     (Three  Months.) 

COLONEL. 

■^' J-  Oglesby,  May  3,  '61.  Re-enlisted  3  years  service. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONEL. 

Frank  L.  Rhodes,  May  3,  '61.     Re-enlisted  3  years  service. 

MAJORS. 

John  P.  Post,  May  3,  '61.  Re-enlisted  3  years  service. 

Herman  Leib,  Oct.  7,  '62.  Promoted  Col.  9th  Inf.  (col.) 


72  HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 

JVame,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

CAPTAIN  CO.  "  A." 

I.  C.  Pugh,  April  23,  '61.  Re-enlisted  3    years  service;  Col. 

[41st  i"egiment. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANT. 

I.  N.  Martin,  April  23,  '61. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT. 

G.  M.  Bruce,  April  23,  '61.  Re-enlisted  3  years  service. 

CAPTAINS  CO.  "  B." 

H.  P.  Westerfield,  Apr.  30, '61. 
John  P.  Post. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT. 

John  M.  Lowry,  Apr.  25,  '61.     Resigned  Sept.  3,  '62. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

Thos.  Goodman,  April  25,  '61.    Resigned  July  35,  '61. 
ROSTER    EIGHTH    REGIMENT   INF.     (Three   Years.) 

COLONELS. 

R.J.  Oglesby,  April  25, '61.         Promoted  Brig.-Gen.  April  i,  '62; 

Major-Gen.  Nov.  9,  '62. 
F.  L.  Rhodes,  April  i,  '62.  Resigned  Oct.  7, '62. 

John  P.  Post,  Oct.  7,  '62.  Resigned  Sept.  28,  '63. 

Josiah  A.  Shietz,  Sept.  23,  '63.     Prom,  to  Brevet  Brig.-Gen.  Nov. 

[25,  '65;  resigned  Feb.  9,  '66. 
Loyd  Wheaton,  Feb.  9,  '64.         Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONELS. 

R.  H.  Sturges,  Oct.  7,  '62.  Resigned  July  25,  '63. 

Noah  Dennison,  Nov.  8,  ''66.        Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 

MAJORS. 

H.  Lieb,  Oct.  7,  '62.  Prom.  Col.  9th  Louisiana  (col.) 

Daniel  Sayers,  Mar.  8,  ''66.  Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 

ADJUTANTS. 

W.  C.  Clark,  Jan.  25,  '61.  Resigned  June  25,  '62.  ■ 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  73 

Name^  and  date  of  Ratzk.  Remarks. 

B.  F.  Monroe,  June  25,  '62.  Promoted  Capt.  Co.  "I." 
Fred.  A.  King,  July  25,  '64.         Resigned  Oct.  9,  '64. 
Wm.  W.  Carver,  Oct.  9,  '64. 

Leander  A.  Sheetz,  Nov.  25,  '65.  Mustered  out  May  4,  '6-. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

Sam'l  Rhodes,  Jan.  25,  '61.  Resigned  Dec.  9,  '61. 

H.  N.  Fearse,  Dec.  10, '61.  Resigned  Aug.  i,  '63. 

R.  T.  Mercer,  Aug.  i,  '63.  Mustered  out  May  4,  ^66. 

SURGEONS. 

S.  T.  Trowbridge,  Apr.  25, '61.  Mustered  out  July  27,  '64. 

C.  N.  Dennison,  July  37,  '64.       Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 

FIRST    ASSISTANT    SURGEONS. 

John  M.  Phipps,  April  25,'6i.     Resigned  Feb.  16,  '63. 
W.  F.  Buck,  Nov.  28,  '63.  Mustered  out  May  4,   66. 

SECOND    ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

C.  M.  Spalding,  May  27,  '65.      Mustered  out  May  4,  ^66. 

CHAPLAIN. 

Samuel  Day,  Jan.  28,  '66.  Mustered  out  Jan.  29,  '65. 

CAPTAINS. 

G.  M.  Price,  July  25,  '61.  Resigned  Feb.  5,  '62. 

Frank  Leeper,  Feb.  5,  '62.  Killed  in  battle. 

Geo.  D.  Durfee,  May  14,  '63.       Mustered  out  May  4,  ^66. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

W.  J.  Taylor,  Feb.  5,  '62.  Resigned  Jan.  28,  '63. 

W.  A.  Albert,  May  14,  '63.         Term  expired  Jan.  27,  '64. 
Sam'l  Nicholson,  Jan.  27,  '64.      Mustered  out  May  4,  ^66. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

J.  W.  Reavis,  Jan.  28,  '64.  Mustered  out  May  4,  ^66. 

SERGEANT. 

D.  W.  Greenawalt,July  25,'6i.     Died   at   Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  Nov. 

[18,  '61. 
— 10 


74 


HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 


Remarks. 


CORPORALS. 


James  Dunbar,  July  25,  '61. 


Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 

[May  4,  '66. 
Michael  Matthews,  July  35,  '61.  Killed  at  Ft.  Donelson,  Feb.  I5,'62. 
Wm.  M.  BuUard,  July  35,  '61.     Died  at  Cincinnati,  O.,  Mar.  4,  '62, 

[of  wound  rec'd  at  Donelson. 
Robert  E.  Horey,  Jnly  25, '61.     Discharged  July  34,  '64. 
Geo.  S.  Leach,  July  25,  '61.         Killed  at  Ft.  Donelson,  Feb,  15, '62. 
John  B.  Lowell,  July  25,  '61.       Died  Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  Nov.  i,'6i. 
Marcellus  Warner,  July  25, '61.  Killed   at   Raymond,   Miss.,   May 

[12,  '63. 

PRIVATES. 

Baker,  Abijah  J.  July  25,  '61.      Prom,   sergeant;  died  June  4,  '63, 

[of  wounds  rec'd  at  Vicksburg. 
Bashford,  G.  D.,  July  25,  '61.       Promoted  sergeant. 
Bacon,  John  H.,  July  25,  '61.       Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 
Cochrane,  Henry,  July,  25, '61.  Killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Cook,  Andrew  E.,  July  25,  '61.  Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Dunn,  James  W.,  July  25,  '61.     Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 

Killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Promoted  corporal;  mustered  out 

[May  4,  ''66. 
Disch'd   Aug.    15,  '62,  of  wounds 

[at  Donelson. 
Prom,  serg't;  disch'd  July  10,  '65, 

[of  wounds  rec'd  at  Jackson. 
Re  enlisted. 

Prom.  Corp.;  M.  O.  May  4,  ''66. 
Prom,  sergeant;  dis.  Jan.  27,  '62. 
Discharged  June  22,  '62,  of  wounds 

[received  at  Donelson. 
Killed  at   Raymond,    Miss.,   May 

[May  13,  '63. 
Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 
Killed  at  Ft.  Donelson,  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Prom.  Corp.;  killed  at   Champion 
[Hill,  May  16,  '63. 


Denniston,  Wm.,  July  25,  '61. 
Dudley,  Jos.  S.,  July  25,  '61. 

Florey,  A.  J.,  July  25, '61. 

Fouch,  Jos.,  July  25,  '61. 

Greer,  B.  F.,  July  25,  '61. 
Hagart  A.  H.,  July  25,  '61. 
Helm,  L.,July  25, '61. 
Hess,  Joseph,  July  25,  '61. 

Hudson,  James,  July  25,  '61. 

Idell,  Robert,  July  25,  '61. 
Jefferson,  W.  J.,  July  25,  '61. 
Tames,  Geo.  W.,  July  25,  '61. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  75 

JVanie^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Jones,  Andrew,  July  25,  '61.  Killed  at  Ft.  Donelson,  Feb.  15, '62. 

Livingston,  M.  C,  July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 

Leach,  James,  July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 
Leland,  Jas.  H.,  July  25,  '61. 

Muirhead,  T.J.,  July,  25,  '61.  Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '62. 
McDonald,  J.  C,  July  25,  '61. 

Moskell,  Ellis,  July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  May  28,  ""66. 

Pope,  Geo.  S.,  July  25,  '61.  Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '62. 

Reavis,  Jas.  W.,  July  25,  '61.  Promoted  to  2d  lieut. 

Rock,  Jos.  W.,  July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 
Shively,  H.  C,  July  25,  '61.  "  July  30,  '64. 

Smith,  Jos.  W.,  July  25,  '61.  "  " 

Whitbeck,  H.,  July  25,  '61.  Killed  at  Fort  Donelson  Feb.  15, 

['62. 

RECRUITS. 

Albert,  Wm.  A.,  Aug.  15.  '61.  Promoted  lieut. 

Ault,  Jos.,  Dec.  1 1, '63.  Promoted  sergeant;  mustered   out 

[May  4,  '66. 
Bradbury,  J.  A.,  Aug.  15, '61.     Promoted  sergeant;  killed   at  Shi- 

[loh  April  6,  '62. 
Craine,  Robt.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61.   Discharged  Dec.  27,  '61. 
Dumman,  J.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '61.  Discharged  Aug.  15,  '62,  of  wound 

[at  Donelson. 
Green,  John  H.,  Aug.  10, '61.     Killed  at    Raymond,    Miss.,   May 

[12, '63. 
Helpman,  Irwin,  Aug.  15,  '61.    Re-enlisted  as  vet. 
Holtz,  Ernest,  Aug.  15,  '61.         Discharged  July  22,  '62,  of  wound 

[at  Donelson. 
Hatchett,  Wm.,  Aug,  15,  '62.      Discharged  Aug  14,  '64. 
Haggard,  Jas.,  Aug.  16, '61.        Died  at    Decatur,  Ala.,   April   11, 

['62. 
James,  B.  F.,  Aug.  15,  '61.  Killed  at  Donelson  Feb.  15,  '62. 

Kunkleman,  J.  H.,  Aug.  10,  '61. 

McCarty,  Patrick,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Died  at  Carthage,  La.,  of  wounds 

[received  on  steamer  Moderator. 
Marsh,  Peter,  Dec.  15,  '61.  Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66, 


>j6  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

McKinly,  W.  A.  Aug.  lo,  '6i.    Died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Mar.  lo, 

['63- 
Norris,  John  H.,  Aug.  5,  '61.       Discharged  Feb.  19,  '63. 

Nicholson,  J.  R.,  Aug.  15,  '61.    Mustered  out  May  4,  '66. 

Nicholson,  Jer.,  Aug.  15, '61.      Discharged  Aug.  14, '64;  tm.  exp. 

Paine,  R.  T.,  Aug;  5,  '61.  Transferred  to  9th   regt.  La.   Inft. 

[May  5,  '63. 
Pearce,  Irwin,  Aug.  25,  '61.        Discharged  Dec.  25,  '61. 
Pope,  Wm.  F.Jan.  I, '62,  Promoted    capt. ;    discharged    Oct. 

[31,  '65;  disabled. 
Rector,  John  W.,  Dec.  15,  '62.    Died  in  hospital  at  Vicksburg,July 

[2,  '63,  disease. 
Stevenson,  W.  B.  Aug.  2, '61.     Transferred,    and    disch'd    Feb.  2, 

\^66^  of  wounds  at  Jackson,  Miss. 
Squire,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '61.    Died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Sept.  12, 

['63- 
Steel,  Jas.  F.,  Aug.  15,  '61.  Discharged  Aug.  14,  '64;  tm.  expd. 

DRAFTS  AND   RECRUITS. 

Bosworth,  J.  B.,  Sept.  26,  '64.     Mustered  out  Sept.  26,  '65. 

Company  «  B." 

CAPTAINS. 

H.  Lieb,  Jan.  25,  '61.  Promoted  major. 

Peter  Schlosser,  Oct.  7,  '62.         Term  expired  Jan.  27.  '64. 

H.  A.  Miller,  Jan.  28,  '64.  Mustered  out  May  4,  '66. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

B.  Zick,  Oct.  7,  '62.  Term  expired  Jan.  28,  '64. 

Thos.  Mclnery,  Jan,  28,  '64.        Mustered  out  May  4,  '66. 

second    LIEUTENANTS. 

H.J.  Marsh,  Jan.  25, '61.  Killed  at  Ft.  Donelson. 

John  Collmer,  Oct.  7, '62.  Term  expired  Jan.  27,  '64. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

H.  C.  Oglesby,  July  25, '61.         Reduced   to    ranks;  drummed  out 

of  service,  Sept.  15,  '63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  77 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

SERGEANTS. 

B.  F.  Snow,  July  25, '6i.  Disch'd    Sept.  32,  '62,  ot"  wounds 

[at  Donelson. 
W.  F.  Gardenhire,  July  25,  '61.  Discharged  May  2,  '62;  disabled. 
Chas.  Albert,  July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 

CORPORALS. 

John  M.  Collmer,  July  25,  '61.    Promoted  2d  lieut. 

C.  P.  A.  Goddard,  July25,  '61.  Died  Oct.  31,  '63. 

Chas.  Fechner,  July  25,  '61.         Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '62. 
John  Smith,  July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 

Thos.  Scantlin,  July  25, '61.        Transferred    to  non-com.  staff   as 

[com.  sergt. 

PRIVATES. 

Athons,  W.  H.,July  35,  '61. 

Abin,  Geo.,  July  25,  '61.  Died  April  8,  '64,  of  wounds  reed. 

[at  Raymond,  Miss. 
Bech,  Jno.  M.,  July  25,  '61.  Disch'd  Sept.  8,  '63,  of  wounds  at 

[Donelson.  , 

Batin,  F.,  July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 

Basler,  J.  G.,  July,  25,  '61.  "         July  20,  '64. 

Becker,  Wm.,  July  35,  '61.  Died  at  Vicksburg,  June  30,  '63. 

Bruner,  John,  July  35,  '61.  Died  May  35,  '63,  of  wounds  reed. 

[at  Champion  Hills, 
Berlin,  D.  M.,July  25,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  i,'65. 

Bruner,  J.  D.,July,  25, '61. 

Baner,  Jacob,  July  35,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 

Breitsprecker,  W.,  July  35, '61.  "  " 

CulHgan,John,July  35, '61.  "  « 

Cunningham,  S.  B.,  July  35,  '61. 

Campbell,  Jno.  E.,  July  25, '61.  "         May  4, '64. 

Durant,  F.,  July  35,  '61.  Accidently  killed  May  3o,  '63. 

Dutcher,  Chas.,  July  35,  '61.        Discharged  Oct.  14,  '61. 
Dunham,  A.,  July  35, '61.  Killed  at  Ft.  Donelson  Feb.  15, '62. 

Everman,  J.  C.,  July  25,  '61.       Mustered  out  Aug.  6,  '64. 
Elliot,  Jos.,  July  25,  '61.  Died  at  Cairo,  111.,  (no  date.) 


78 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JVa?ne^  and  date  of  Rajtk. 
Flora,  Jasper,  July  25,  '61. 

Gardenhire,J.  M.,  July  25,  '61. 

Gemer,  A.,  July  35,  '61, 
Genert,  August,  July  35,  '61. 
Geswinder,  N.,  July  25,  '61, 
Gardenhire,  Geo.,  July  25,  '61, 
Humphrey,  J.  A.,  July  25, '61. 
Jameson,  Joshua,  July  35,  '61. 
Johnson,  Moses,  July  25,  '61. 
Ki-ebs,  Chris.,  July  25,  '61. 

Keller,  Jacob,  July  25,  '6i. 
Kelly,  John,  July,  25, '61. 

Lynch,Jas.,  July  25,  '61. 
Leeper,  Wm.,  July  25,  '61. 
Miller,  F.  C.,July   25,  '61. 
Miller,  H.  A.,July  25,  '61. 
Manchon,  H.,  July  25,  '61. 
O'Brien,  Peter,  July  25,  '61. 
O'Neil,  John,  July  25, '61. 
Priest,  John  W.,  July  25,  '61. 
Peters,  Geo.,  July  25,  '6r. 
Robinett,  John,  July  25,  '61. 
Rouse,  Geo.  W.,  July  25,  '61. 
Rust,  M.  N.,July  25, '61. 
Switzer,  John  M.,  July  25,  '61. 
Staines,  Button,  July  25,  '61. 

Steward,  E.  O.,  July  25,  '61. 
Seiter,  John  C.July  25,  '61. 
Tansey,  V.  G.,  July  25,  '61. 
Wardner,  H.,  July  25,  '61. 

Warren,' J.  July  25,  '61. 


Remarks, 

Discharged  July    25,  '62,  by   order 

[of  Grant. 
,  Discharged  May  2, '62,  by  order  of 

[Grant. 
Died  Aug.  14,  '61. 

Mustered  out  Mar.  21,  ''(>6. 
Killed  at  Donelson  Feb.  15,  '62. 

Absent  at  mustering  out. 

Discharged  Oct.  14,  '61. 

Disch'd  July   24,  '62,  of  wounds  at 

[Donelson  and  Shiloh. 
Killed  at  Donelson  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Murdered  at    Norfolk,  Mo.,  Sept. 

[17/61. 
Mustered  out  July  30,  '64. 
Transferred  to  N.  C.  S.'as  Mus. 
Killed  at  Donelson,  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Promoted  captain  J«ly  14,  '64. 
Discharged  July   10,  '63;  disabled. 

Discharged  July  25,  '64:  tm.  expd. 
Killed  at  Donelson  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Mustered  out  May  4,  '64. 

Transferred  to  12th  111.  infantry. 

Promoted  sergt. 

Promoted  corpl.;  disch'd  Sept.  24, 

['62. 
Discharged  Oct.  14,  '61. 
Mustered  out  May  4,  ""^d. 
Discharged  Oct.  14,  '61. 
Transferred  to  Inv.  Corps  Sept.  15, 

Discharged  N(jv,  8,  '63,  of  wounds 
[at  Vicksburg. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  79 


Name^  a?id  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Wills,  Andrew,  July  25,  '61.       Died    Feb.    17,  '63,    of  wounds  at 

[Donelson. 

RECRUITS,  DRAFTS  AND  SUBSTITUTES. 

Anthons,  Josephus,  Apr.  5, '64.  Prom.  corp. ;  mustered  out  May  4, 

\'66. 
Andrish,  Antoine,  Aug.  17,  '61.  Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '63. 
Beecher,  Peter,  Aug.  17,  '61.       Disch'd   Sept.  9,  '62,  of  wounds  at 

[Shiloh. 
Brown,  Henry,  Aug.  29,  '61.        Disch'd   Sept.  5,  '63,  of  wounds  at 

[Shiloh. 

Dunham,  Dayton,  Aug.  16, '61.   Wounded  at  Donelson;  discharged 

[April  II,  ''62. 

Dunz,  John,  Aug.  39, '61.  Mustered  out  May  4, '65. 

Frank,  Peter,  Sept.  7,  '61. 

Fluke,  August,  Aug.  39,  '62.        Discharged  Oct.  11,  '63. 

Grosh,  Jacob,  Aug.  17,  '61.  Mustered  out  Aug.  5,  '64. 

Gross,  Jacob,  Aug.  32, '61. 

Gunter,  Hugo,  Nov.  37,  '61.         Mustered  out  March  3,  ''66. 

Grob,  Jno.  J.,  Jan  5,  '64.  «  May  4,  '66. 

Hatchly,  Isaac,  Nov.  26,  '61.        Disch'd   May  i,  '63.  of  wounds  at 

[Shiloh. 

Hawley,  Jno.  D.,  Sept.  19,  '61. 

Jones,  R.  F.  Mustered  out  May  14,  ''66. 

Kepler,  M.,  Sept.  7,  '61.  Disch'd  Dec.  15,  '62,  of  wounds  at 

[Shiloh. 

Lehman,  Jacob,  Aug.  8,  '61.         Disharged  Aug.  7,  '64. 

Langheld,  August,  Aug.  5, '61.    Disch'd  Aug.  8,  '63,  of  wounds  at 

[Raymond,   Miss. 

Lynn,  Robt.,  Aug.  39,  '6i.  Died  Oct.  31,  '61. 

Lankerman,  Jacob,  Jan.    i, '63.    Mustered  out  May  4, '66. 

Mossman,  Wm.,  Dec.  18,  '63. 

Magae,Jno.  S.,  April  38, '64. 

Mathys,  Jno.,  April  16,  '64. 

McGorry,  Thos.,  Dec.  i,  '61.        Promoted  ist  lieut. 

O'Connol,  J.  H.,  Aug.  13,  '61. 

Preston,  Thos.,  Aug.  33,  '61.       Disch'd    Oct.  15,  '63,  of  wounds  at 

[Vicksburg. 


11 

(( 

(C 

(( 

(( 

(( 

So  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

JVame,  a?id  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Pfeifer,  Frank,  April  15,  '64.       Mustered  out  July  i,  '65. 
Reister,  Leonard,  Sept.  2,  '61. 

Walker,  Michael,  Aug.  13,  '61.  Mustered  out  May  4,  ^66. 
Webber,  Chas.,  Sept.  28,  '61.       Killed  at  Charleston,  Mo.,  Oct.  16, 

['61. 
Zimm,  Jno.,  April  28,  '64.  Mustered  out  May  4,  ''66. 

TWENTY-FIRST  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

The  Twenty-first  Illinois  Regiment  Infantr}-  was  mustered  into 
the  service  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  1861,  under  command  of  L^. 
S.  Grant.  Went  to  Ironton,  Mo.  Engaged  in  battle  at  Perryville 
and  Chaplin  Hill.  In  a  skirmish  at  Knob  Gap.  Engaged  in  bat- 
tle near  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.;  lost  many  men  in  this  engage- 
ment. Was  with  Gen.  Rosecrans'  army,  from  Murfreesboro  to 
Chattanooga.  Engaged  in  a  severe  skirmish  at  Liberty  Gap,  June 
25,  1S63.     In  the  battle  of  Chicamauga,  Sept.  19-20,  1863. 

After  this  battle,  regiment  remained  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  three 
months. 

Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  1865,  at  San  Antonio,  Texas.  Arrived  at 
Camp  Butler  Jan.  18,  1866,  for  final  pay  and  discharge. 

ROSTER  TWENTY-FIRST   INFANTRY— CO.  "  A." 
Name.,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

COLONELS. 

U.  S.  Grant,  June  16,  '61.  Promoted  Brig.  Gen.  Aug.  5, '61; 

[Maj.  Gen.  Feb.  16,  '62. 
J.  W.  Alexander,  Aug.  23,  '61.  Killed  in  battle  Sept.  20,  '63. 
Jas.  E.Calloway,  May  ii,  '65.    Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  '65. 
Wm.  H.Jamison,  July  13, '65.  "  " 

LIEUTENANT  COLONELS. 

Geo.  W.  Peck,  Sept  2,  '61.  Dischd,  ill  health,  Sept.  19,  '62. 

W.  E.  McMaken,  Sept.  19,  '62.  Term  expired  Nov.  16,  '64. 

MAJOR. 

Jno.  L.  Wilson,  June  2,  '65.         Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  '65. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  8l 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

ADJUTANTS. 

Chas.  B.  Steele,  Sept.  6,  '6i.        Resigned  July  20,  '64. 
J.  R.  Duncan,  July  20, '64.  Prom.  capt.  company  "  A;"  mus- 

tered out  Dec.  16,  '65. 
Jno.  A.  Pierce,  Aug.  21, '65.        Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  '65. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

Jno.  E.Jones,  May  15,  '61.  Mustered  out  Aug.  18,  '64. 

SimeonPaddleford,  Aug.  i8,'64.  "  Dec.   16, '65. 

SURGEONS. 

Eden  M.  Seeley,  Aug.  21,  '62.    Res.  May  21,  '64. 

Jas.  J.  Reat,  May  21,  '64.  Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  ''(>y 

CHAPLAIN. 

E.  D.  Wilkins,  Oct.  12,  '61.         Res.  July  9,  '64. 

CAPTAINS. 

S.  S.  Goode,  May  7,  '61.  State  service,  ten  regt.  bill. 

Geo.  S.  Dunning,  May  17,  '61.    Res.  Oct.  24,  '62. 

Geo.  F.  Eaton,  Oct.  24,  '62.         Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

E.  D.  Coxe,  Oct.  24,  '62.  Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 

B.  F.  Osborne,  July  5,  '64.  Dismissed  July  3,  '65. 

J.  R.  Sheperd,  Aug.  21,  '65.         Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  '65. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. 

J.  L.  Bowman,  May  7,  '61.  Res.  April  14,  '62. 

Jos.  C.  Alvord,  Oct.  24, '62.  Killed  in  battle  Dec.  31.  '62. 

Theo.  Gross,  June  i,'63.  Res.  May  12,  '65. 

Alvin  Colmus,  Dec.  16,  '65.  Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  '65. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Edward  D.  Coxe,  June  15, '61.    Promoted  2d  lieutenant. 

SECOND    SERGEANT. 

Charles  Disbrow,  June,  15,  '61.  Discharged  Aug.  10, '62,  disability. 
— II 


82 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JVame^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

CORPORALS. 

Elijah  Smith,  June  15,  '61.  Killed  at  Stone  river  Dec.  30,  '62. 

Wm.  R.  Wheeler, June  15, '61.  Discharged  Sept.  i,'63. 

Ben.  F.  Osborne,  June   15, '61,     Re-enlisted    as   vet.;  promoted   1st 

lieut. 
Joseph  Wagoner,  June  15,  '61.    Discharged  April  23,  '63. 
G.  W,  Stephens,  June  15,  '61.     Re-enlisted    as  vet.;  mustered  out 

Dec.  16,  '65. 

MUSICIAN. 

J,  D.  L.  Meeks,  June   15, '61.       Mustered  out  July  5,  64. 

WAGONER. 

Jno.  Hanks,  June  15,  '61.  Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 

PRIVATES. 

Joseph  Barber,  June  23, '61.         Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 

Dec.  16,  '65. 
Discharged  Oct.  16,  '62. 


Jas.  T;  Baker,  June  15,  '61 
Hugh  Bacon,  June  15, '61. 
Philip  Bloss,  June  15,  '61. 


Killed  at   Stone  river  Dec.  31,  '62. 
Died  at  Andersonville  prison  June 

15'  '64- 
Killed   at  Stone  river  Dec.  30,  '62. 

Wm.  H.  Clipson,  June  15, '61.    Re-enlisted  as  vet.;   mustered    out 

July  13,  '63.     Prisoner    of  war. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet-;  transferred  to 
eng.  corps  Aug.  2,  '64. 
Henry  Cruise,  July  21,  '61. 

David  Crawford,  June  26, '61.     Re-enlisted  as  vet,;  mustered    out 

July  13, '65.     Prisoner  of  war. 
Dischd  Aug.  10,  '62;  disability. 


Jacob  ConoufF,  June  15,  '61 
Wm.  H.  Clipson,  June 

Jas.  Clark,  June  21,  '61. 


Frank  Ernst,  June  15,  '61. 
F.  H.  Fammer,  June   15,  '61. 
H.  F.  Fletcher,  June  15,  '61. 
Daniel  Foley,  June  15,  '61. 


Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 

Killed  at   Chickamauga    Sept.    10, 

'63- 
Joseph  E.  Hobson,  June  i5,'6i.  Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 
Jasper  H.  Hixson,  June   15,  '61.  Disch'd  March  11,  '64;  disability. 
Wm.  H.  Higgins,  June  24,  '61.  Killed  at  Stone  river   Dec.  30,  '62. 
Orlando  Hogan,  June  24,  '61.       Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


83 


JVame^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Wm.  Johnson,  June  35, '61. 
Thos.  E.  Jefferson,  June  25,  '61. 
Jas.  R.  Kennedy,  June  25,  '61. 
Jno.  B.  Lembeck,  June  25,  '61. 

Jno.  Leigh,  June  24,  '61. 
Wm,  McPherson,  June  15,  '61. 
H.  B.  F.  Martin,  June   15,  '61. 

Jno.  McAvoy,  June  15,  '61. 

L.  D.  Morgan,  June  23,  '61. 
Abe.  McKitrick,  June  23,  '61. 
Wm.  McGrath,  June  15,  '61. 
C.  M.  Pope,  June  15,  '61. 
Wm.  H.  Ross,  June  25, '61. 
C.  Rosenberger,  June  15,  '61. 
Daniel  Shutter,  June  23,  '61. 
Peter  Shelt,  June  15,  '61. 

Geo.  S.  Stuart,  Juue  15,  '61, 
Heww  C.  Stuart,  June  15,  '61. 

Edward  Stockton,  June  15,  '61. 
Jos.  Sheperd,  June  15,  '61. 
John  Smith,  June  15,  '61. 
John  Street,  June  15,  '61. 

Patrick  Shannon,  June  15, '61. 

Jas.  Shepherd,  June  22,  '61. 
Wm.  H.  Stewart,  June  23,  '61. 
Martin  Tibbett,  June  15,  '61. 
John  Thute,  June  24,  '61. 

Jno.  L.  Whitton,  June  15,  '61. 
Benj.  F.  Witts,  June  22,  '61. 


Remarks. 

Discharged  Oct.  i,  '61. 
Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 
Disch'd  Sept.  29,  '62,  wounds. 
Transferred   to  inv.   corps    March 

23,  '64. 
Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 

Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  died  Oct.  30, 

'64. 
Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 

July   13,  '65.   Prisoner  of  war. 
Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 
Disch'd  April  30,  '62;  disability. 
Discharged  Oct.  7,  '61. 
Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 


as  corp. 


Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 

Dec,  16,  '65. 
Died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Nov.,  '64. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet,;  mustered   out 

Dec.  16,  '65. 


Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  mustered  out 

Dec.  16,  '65,  as  corporal. 
Discharged  to  re-enlist  in  15th  U. 

S.  Inf.,  Dec.  24,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  prom,  ist  lieut. 
Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  '65, 
Mustered  out  July  5,  '64, 
Re-enlisted   as  vet,;  mustered  out 

Dec.  16,  '65. 
Disch'd  Aug.  iS,  '63 — disability. 
Died  Jan.  7,  '63 — wounds. 


84  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Wm.  H.  Witts,  June  24,  '61.        Mustered  out  July  5,  '64. 
Rodolph  Zorger,  June  22,  '61.     Died  Jan.  22,  '63,  of  wounds. 

RECRUITS. 

John  Cram,  Oct.  12,  '61.  Died  Nov.  10,  '62. 

John  Eckart,  Jan.  22,  '62.  Mustered  out  Jan.  28,  '65. 

Martin  Fitzpatrick,  Oct.  12, '61.  "  "     Feb.  12, '65. 

Taylor  Florey,  Oct.  12, '61.  "  "     April  27, '65, 

Albert  Fowkes,  Oct.  12,  '61. 

Silas  W.  West,  Aug.  13,  '61.  Discharged  Feb.  i,  '62 — disability. 

Company  "  K." 

captains. 

A.  M.  Pattison,  May  16,  '61.       Resigned  Nov.  21,  '62. 
John  L.  Wilson,  Nov.  21,  '62.     Promoted  Major. 
Sydney  B.  Wade,  July  18,  '65.     Mustered  out  Dec.  16,  '65. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT. 

John  F.  Weitzel,  Jan.  31,  '63.      Killed  at  Chickamauga,  Sep.19,'63. 

PRIVATES. 

Pat.  S.  Curtis,  June  14,  '61. 

John  F.  Weitzel,  June  25,  '61.     Promoted  sergeant  and  2d  lieut. 

UNASSIGNED    RECRUITS. 

John^Barrett,  Dec.  19,  '63. 


THIRTY-FIFTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

The  Thirty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry  was  organized  in  Decatur,  on 
the  third  day  of  July,  1861.  On  the  twenty-third  it  was  accepted 
by  the  Secretary  of  War,  as  Col.  G.  A.  Smith's  Independent  Regi- 
ment of  Illinois  Volunteers.  Left  Decatur  August  4th;  arrived  at 
Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo,,  the  5th;  thence  to  the  Marine  Hospital, 
St.  Louis;  moved  to  Jefferson  City,  Mo.;  next  to  Otterville; 
marched  to  Sedalia  and  joined  Gen.  Siegel's  advance  on  Spring- 
field, arriving  there  the  26th;  moved  from  Springfield  to  Rolla; 
returned    to    Springfield    the    13th    of   February,    1862.       In    an 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  85 

engagement  at  Pea  Ridge,  Col.  G.  A.  Smith  was  severely 
wounded.  The  principal  places  of  action  were  at  Rocky-faced 
Ridge,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Mud  Creek,  Kenesaw,  Perryville,  Stone 
River  and  Chickamauga.  Mustered  out  at  Springfield,  111.,  on  the 
27th  day  of  September,  1864. 


ROSTER    THIRTY-FIFTH    REGIMENT    INFANTRY. 
Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

COLONELS. 

G.  A.  Smith,  July  2, '61.  Prom.    Brig.-Gen.    Sept.    19,  '62; 

discharged  Sept.  22,  '63. 
W.  P.  Chandler,  Sept.  22, '63.     Term   expired  Sept.   27,  '64;  was 

Lieutenant  Colonel. 

MAIOR. 

John  Mcllwain,  July  3,  '61.         Killed  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June 

22,  '64. 

ADJUTANTS. 

W.J.  Usrey,  Sept.  i,  '61.  Resigned  April  15,  '63. 

Uriah  Fox,  April  15,  '62,  Resigned  Nov.  17,  '63. 

Samuel  W.  Bird,  Nov.  17,  '63.    Term  expired  Sept.  27,  '64. 

QUARTERMASTER. 

John  G.  Miles,  July  3,  '61.  Term  expired  Sept.  27,  '64. 

SURGEONS. 

W.J.  Chenoweth,  Sep.  25, '6i.    Resigned  Dec.  14,  '62. 

S.  B.  Hawley,  Dec.  9,  '62.  Term  expired  Sept.  27,  '64. 

FIRST    ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

D.  C.  Titball,  Sept.  25,  '61.         Term  expired  Sept.  27,  '64. 

SECOND    ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

Jonathan  D,  Wylie,  Dec.  8,  '62.  Term  expired  Sept.  27,  '64. 

CHAPLAINS. 

p.  D.  Hammond,  July  3,  '61.       Resigned  May  12,  '62. 


86  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

JVame,  and  date  of  Rank.  Rcftiarks. 

R.  E.  Harris,  May  12,  '63.  Left  at  Florence,  Ala.,  Aug.    18, 

'62 ;  not  heard  from. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    StAFF. 
SERGEANT    MAJOR. 

Geo.  B.  Peake,  July  3,  '61.  Prom.  2d  lieut.  Co.  A,  and  capt'n. 

HOSPITAL     STEWARD. 

Jos.  T.  DeWatney,  July  3,  '61.    Reduced,  and  returned  to  Co.  A. 

PRINCIPAL  MUSICIANS. 

Newlin  B.  Davis,  July  3,  '61. 

Archibald  Monroe,  July  3,  '61.    Promoted  to  principal  musician. 

SECOND    CLASS    MUSICIAN. 

Joseph  Ricketts,  July  3,  '61. 

Company  "  A." 

CAPTAINS. 

'  B.  M.  Tables,  July  3,  '61.  Resigned  Dec.  20,  '61. 

Pierre  W.  Thomas,  Dec,  25, '61.  Resigned  Jan.  31,  '64. 
Geo.  B.  Peake,  July  3,  '61.  Term  expired  Sept.  27,  '64. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

George  F.  Deitz,  Dec.  25,  '61.     Died  July  8,  '63. 

John  W.  Peen,  Jan.  31,  '64.         Term  expired  Sept.  27,  '64. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

Jas.  Shoaif,  July  3,  '61.  Resigned  Feb.  3,  '62. 

PRIVATES. 

Augusta  Glatz,  July  3,  '61.  Discharged  Aug.   9,  '62 — wounds. 

Conover  Hatfield,  July  3,  '61.  Disch'd  Dec.  12,  '61 — disability. 

Wm.  C.  Stewart,  July  3, '61.  Disch'd  June  15,  '62 — disability. 

Andrew  Stewart,  July  3,  '61, 

Joseph  McMullen,  July  3,  '61. 

John  D.  McFadden,  July  3,  '61. 

John  Hager,  July  3,  '61. 

Curtis  Aastin,  July  3, '61.  Transferred  to  59th  reg't. 

Frank  Rea,  July  3, '61. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  87 

JVame,  atid  date  of  Rank.  Refnarks. 

Company  "  F." 

N.  L.  F.  Monroe,  July  3,  '61.      Disch'd  March  34,  '63 — disability. 


FORTY-FIRST    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY. 

The  Forty-first  Infantry  Illinois  Volunteers  was  organized  at 
Decatur,  Illinois,  in  the  month  of  August,  1S61,  by  Col.  Isaac  C. 
Pugh.  Moved  to  St.  Louis  August  7;  29th  moved  to  Bird's 
Point,  Mo.,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  General  Prentiss; 
September  8th  moved  to  Paducah,  Ky.,  and  assigned  to  General 
B.  F.  Smith's  command;  February  5th, '62,  moved  to  Fort  Henry; 
nth  marched  to  Fort  Donelson,  and  was  engaged,  13th,  14th  and 
15th  in  the  siege,  under  Colonel  McArthur;  March  10  moved  for 
Pittsburg  Landing,  arriving  the  14th;  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  April  6th  and  7th,  1862;  engaged  in  the  siege  at  Corinth; 
marched  to  Memphis,  arriving  July  11,  and  remained  until  Sept. 
6;  moved  for  Bolivar;  moved  from  Bolivar*to  LaGrange,  Nov.  3; 
Arrived  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  March  10,  1S63;  sent  to  Hernando, 
Miss.;  in  an  engagement  at  Cold  water;  returned  to  Memphis; 
moved  to  Vicksburg  May  12th,  etc.;  was  at  last  consolidated  with 
the  Fifty-third  regiment. 


ROSTER  FORTY-FIRST  REGIMENT  INFANTRY. 

Nanie^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

colonel. 

Isaac  C.  Pugh,  July  27,  '61.         Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

lieutenant  colonels. 

Ansel  Tupper,  July  27,  '61.         Killed  at  Pittsburg  Landing  April 

6,  '62. 
Jno.  Warner,  April  8,  '62.  Discharged  Nov.  26,  '62. 

Jno.  H.  Nale.  Mustered  out  Aug.  2,  '64. 


88  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Re?narks. 

MAJORS. 

F.  M.  Long,  Killed  in  action  July  12,  '63. 

R.  H.  McFadden.  Transferred   to  field   staff  as  con- 

solidated. 

ADJUUTANTS. 

B.  G.  Pugh,  Dec.  12,  '61.  Res.  March  17,  '62. 

Wm.  C.  Gillespie.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

H,  C.  Bradsby,July  27,  '61.         Res.  June  9,  '62. 

I.  R.  Pugh,  Sept.  30,  '62.  Res.  Aug.  i,  '63. 

John  Boughman.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

SURGEONS. 

Wm.  M.  Gray.  Mustered  out  March  29,  '62. 

Chas.  Carle.  "  Aug.  20,  '64. 

FIRST  ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

Geo.  W.  Short,  July  27,  '61.        Resigned. 

O.  M.  Warmoth,  April  12, '62.    Transferred  to    field   and   staff  as 

consolidated. 

SECOND  ASSISTANT  SURGEON. 

Jno.  W.  Coleman,  Sept.  30,  '62.  Term  expired  ^66. 

Company  "  A." 

CAPTAINS. 

Jno.  H.  Nale,  July  27,  '61.  Promoted, 

M.  F.  Kanan,  April  8,  '62.  Transferred  to  Co.  A  as  consolida- 

ted. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Geo.  R,  Steele,  April  8,  '62.        Res.  Aug.  3,  '63. 
Rolando  Bell,  April  8, '62.  Prom,  from   2d   lieut.;  must'd  out 

Aug.  20,  '64. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  89 

JVa?ne,  and  date  of  Rank..  'Remarks. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  StAFF. 

SERGEANT  MAJOR.  , 

Hartley  G.  Pugh,  Aug.  5,  '61.    Promoted  adjutant. 

QUARTERMASTER  SERGEANT. 

Alonzo  Burgess,  Aug.  5,  '61.       Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

HOSPITAL     STEWARD. 

Jas.  W.  Routh,  Aug.  5,  '61.         Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

PRINCIPAL  MUSICIAN. 

Alex.  Allsbury,  Aug.  5,  '61.         Reduced  to  ranks  Sept.  1,  '62. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Lewis  B.  Morton,  Aug.  5,  '61.    Died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Sep.  1 9, '6 1. 

SERGEANTS. 

Roland  Bell,  Aug,  5,  '61.  Promoted  2d  lieut. 

Bryant  Kelsey,  Aug.  5, '61.         Died  June  20,  '63;  wounds. 

W.  E.  Winholtz.  Aug.  5,  '61.     Mustered  out  Aug.   20,  '64,  as   ist 

sergj:. ;  wounds. 
David  S.  Morse,  Aug.  5,  '61.       Died   at  Moscow,  Tenn.,  Jan.   23, 

'63. 

CORPORALS. 

Wm.  H.  Hecocks,  Aug.  5,  '61,  Sergt.,    killed    at    Jackson,    Miss., 

July  12,  '63. 
Moses  A.  Stare,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Henry  C.  Payne,  Aug.  5,  '61.     Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
H.  M.  Streever,  Aug.  5,  '61.  "  "  as  sergt. 

Jno.  W.  Sheperd,  Aug.  5,  '61.     Discharged  Nov.   10,  '62;  wounds. 
Fred.  O.  Spooner,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 
Horace  W.  Clark,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Asher,  Robert,  Aug.  5,  '61.  "  " 

Albert,  John,  Aug.  5, '61.  «  " 

Bryant,  James,  Aug.  5,  '61.  "  " 

— 12 


90 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Natne^  and  date  of  Rank. 
Boring,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Beamer,  Marion,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Betzer,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Bell,  Albert,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Bridleman,  Sam.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Bear,  Sam.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Brancet,  Marion,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Buck,  Latham,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Cole,  Aaron,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Chambers,  Henry,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Collady,  Hen.  S.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Crandall,  Chris.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Clark,  Henry  G.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Culver,  L,  L.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Cox,  Jas.  S.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Drennen,  J.  B.,  Aug.  5, '61. 
Dubois,  M.  C,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Delany,  Elijah,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Davis,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Davis,  John  M.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Edmundson,  J.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61 
Ebord,  Adam,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Fuller,  Henry,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Fike,  John,  Aug.  5, '61. 
Fennor,  Elijah  B.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Forin,  John  L.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Greene,  Enoch  D.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
GibHn,  Michael,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Glassie,  R.  \V.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Guthbred,  Richd.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Greene,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  5.  '61. 
Hays,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Hull,  John  R.,  Aug.  5, '61. 

Hull,  James  E.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Harter,  Thos.  J.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 


Remarks. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Discharged   Sept.  28,  '62 ;  wounds. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Disch'd  Oct.  1 8, '62;  disability. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  transferred  to 

Co.  A,  vet.  bat. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  wounded. 
Disch'd  June  10, '62;  disability. 
Discharged  for  disability. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Died  Nov,,  '61, 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '63. 
Killed  at  Donelson  Feb.  15,  '62. 
Died  at  home  Sept.  23,  '63;  w'nds. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Disch'd  Nov.  34,  '61 ;  disabilit}'. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

«  "  w'nded. 

Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 


Supposed  died  at  Decatur,  111. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

"  "         as  corp. 

Discharged  Aug.  6,  '61,  by  writ  of 

habeas  corpus. 
Discharged   April   8,  '63,  as  corp.; 

disability. 
Died  in  hands  of  enemy;  w'nded. 
Disch'd  Dec.  5,  '62 ;  wounds. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


91 


JVame,  and  date  of  Rank. 

Huston,  Walt.  B.,  Aug,  5,  '61. 
Huston,  Norv.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Hackney,  Thos.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Jordan,  I.  N.,  Aug.  5.  '61. 

Jennison,  Geo.,  Aug.  5, '61. 
Kelse,  Oscar  A.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Kile,  Isaac  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Kummisson,  J.VV.  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Longabaugh,  R.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Longabaugh,  C,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Morlan,  Wm.  M.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Manderville,  Geo.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Moore,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
McDonald,  Hugh,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Monohon,J.  M.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Parr,  Wm.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Ray,  Jos.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Smick,  Aaron,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Sides,  Jas.  M.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Stookey,  H.  L.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Stookey,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Strope,  Thos.  B.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Smith,  Wm.  W.,  Awg.  5,  '61. 
Sweet,  Michael,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Senseman,  Daniel,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Smith,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Short,  William  T.,  Aug.  5,  '61, 
Spainhower,  D.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Stewart,  Jas.  H.,  Aug.  5, '61. 
Troxell,  Jas.  B.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Todd,  Geo.  E.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Tuttle,  George,  Aug.  5,  '61. 


Remarks. 

Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '62. 
Disch'd  Sept.  19,  '62;  wounds. 
Wounded     at     Shiloh;      killed     at 

Vicksburg  June  7,  '63. 
Captured,  paroled. 
W'nded  at  Donelson;  disch'd  Oct. 

23,  '63,  as  Corp.,  and  prom. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64,  as  corp. 

Trans,  to  in  v.  corps  Sept.  15,  '63. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet . ;  transferred  to 

Co.  A,  vet.  bat. 
Disch'd  Nov.  7,  '62;  wounds. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Feb.  7,  '62. 

Died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Dec.  28, '61. 
Must'd  out  Aug.  20,  '64  (vet.  bat.) 
Wounded  at  Shiloh;  re-enlisted  as 

vet.;  transferred  to  Co.  A. 
M.  O.  Aug.    20,  '64,  as  sergeant; 

wounded. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Discharged  Aug.  2,  '64;  wounds. 
Died  at  Alexandria,  La.,  Ap.17,'64. 
Disch'd  April  27, '62;  disability. 
Discharged  Sept.  19,  '62;  wounds. 

Discharged  Sept.  20,  '63,  as  corp. ; 

wounds. 
Serg't;  died  April  16, '62;  wounds. 
Disch'd  Feb.  27,  '63;  disability. 
Disch'd   Sept.  iS, '62;  disability. 
M.  O.  Aug.  20,  '64;  wounded. 

(i  u  u  a 

Disch'd  April  7,  '62 ;  disability. 
Killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62. 


•92  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Thompson,  G.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Disch'd  Nov.  17,  '62;  disability. 
Timmons,  S.  H.,  Aug.  5,  '61.     Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Timmons,  M.  F.,  Aug.  5,  '61.     Died  at  Natchez  Oct.  20,  '63,  of 

wounds. 
Tansy,  Alex.  VV„  Aug.  5,  '61.     Disch'd  Nov.  25,  '62;  disability. 
Vaughan,  Wm.D.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Disch'd  Aug.  4,  '62;  disability. 
Westcott,  W.  H.,  Aug.  5  '61,      Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
White,  John  R.,  Aug.  5,  '61.       Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  transferred  to 

Co.  A.,  Vet.  Bat. 
Williams,  Andrew,  Aug.  5, '61.  Transferred  to  invalid  corps,  Sept. 

15,  '63- 
Williams,  John  E.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Died  at  Jackson,  Tenn. 

Wilson,  Hiram  R.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Disch'd  Aug.  2,  '62;  wounds. 

Ward,  John  J.,  Aug.  5, '61.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Whitesell,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.5, '61.  "  "  " 

RECRUITS. 

Crain,  Jas.  H.  Died  at  home,  Oct.  27,  '63. 

Hull,  Joel.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

McDonald,  Samuel  A.  Deserted. 

Robey,  Kilburn  H.  Disch'd  Nov.  24,  '61;  disability. 

Schroll,  George  B.  Disch'd  Sept.  iS,  '62;  wounds. 

Wheeler,  William.  Mustered  out   May  3,  ''66^  to  date 

Aug.  25,  '62. 

Company  "  B." 

CAPTAINS. 

A.  B.  Lee,  July  27,  '61.  Resigned  Aug.  11,  '63. 

John  H.  Davis,  Aug.  15,  '63.       Term   expired  Aug.  20,  '64;  was 

1st  lieutenant. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANT. 

Wm.  H.  Palmer,  Aug.  15, '63.    Transferred  to   Co.  B,  as  consoli- 
dated; was  2d  lieutenant. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

Jackson  A.  Alelick,  July  27, '61.  Died  at  Mound  City,  Mar.  i,  '62. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  93 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

PRIVATE. 

Good,  John  C,  Jan.  3, '64.  Transferred   to  Co.    B,  Vet.  Bat.; 

transferred  to  Co.  G,  53d. 

Company  "E." 

CAPTAIN. 

Jno.  L.  Armstrong,  July  27,'6i.  Died  Dec.  11,  '61. 

W.  S.  Oglesby,  Dec.  12, '61.        Killed  in  action,  April  6,  '62;  was 

1st  lieutenant. 
Oscar  Short,  Sept.  i,  '62.  Term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

FIRST     LIEUTENANTS. 

Robert  Warnick,  Dec.  12, '61.     Dismissed  as  2d  lieut. 

Jas.  A.  Wilson,  April  18,  '62.       Term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Jas.  M.  Taylor,  Dec.  12,  '61.        Resigned  April  26,  '62. 
S.  R.  Appleton,  Sept.  30,  '62.     Resigned  Nov.  18,  '62. 
Jos.  Catherwood,  Nov.  18,  '62.    Term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

SERGEANT. 

Pasley,  Buckner  H.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Wilson,  Jas.  A.,  Aug.-  5,  '61.       Promoted  1st  lieutenant. 
Yick,  Joseph,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Died  April  8,  '62;  wounds. 

CORPORALS. 

Rose,  Albert  D.,  Aug.  5,  '61.       Disch'd  Sept.  6,  '62;  disability. 
Bennett,  Jno.  H.,  Aug.  5,  '61.     Disch'd  April  18,  '62;  disability. 
Strait,  Oscar,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Promoted  sergeant,  then  captain. 

Stevens,  Henry,  Aug.  5,  '61.       M.  O.  Aug.  20,  '64,  as  private. 
Graham,  Harrison,  Aug.  5, '61.  Drowned  near  Decatur,  June   19, 

'62. 
Stevens,  Jas.  M.,  Aug.  5,  '61.      Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Burke,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61.         Discharged  Oct.  9,  '62. 
Graham,  Jacob,  Aug.  5,  '61.         Killed  at  Shiloh,  April  6,  '62* 

PRIVATES. 

Armstrong,  T.  J.,  Aug.  5,  '61.     Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Austin,  Edmiston,  Aug.  5, '61.  "  "  ♦ 


94 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Natne^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Botts,  Wm.  D.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Ben-y,  Jesse  R.,  Aug.  5,  '61, 
Barrell,  John  P.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Bennett,  Wm.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Blair,  Wm.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Beshle,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Berry,  Benjamin,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Brookshire,  J.  P.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Barker,  C.  S.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Bentley,  Charles,  Aug.  5, '61. 

Brewington,  H.  I.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Clark,  Benjamin,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Clark,  Martin,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Crouch,  Alex.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Carmean,  Peai'son,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Davis,  David  M.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Douglas,  Edward,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Dillon,  Job  A.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Evans,  Robert,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Graham,  Wm.  J.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

GrifFee,  Levi,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Gull,  John  Z.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Hemstead,  Henry,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Herring,  Thomas,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Jostis,  Henry,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Jostis,  William,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Jones,  David,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Kirbaugh,  Wm.,  Aug.  5, '61. 
Langdon,  S.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Long,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Little,  James  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
%      Lutrelle,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 


Remarks. 

Disch'd  Sept.  19,  '62;  disability. 
Died  Nov.  II,  '63;  wounds. 
Disch'd  Mar.  2,  '63;  disability. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  transferred  to 

Co.  A,  Vet.  Bat. 
Died  Aug.  6,  '62;  wounds. 
Serg't;  died  at  Keokuk,  July  i,'62. 
Disch'd  April  10,  '63;  disability. 

Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  transferred  to 

Co.  A,  Vet.  Bat. 
Re  enlisted  as  vet.;  transferred  to 

Co.  A. 
In    marine    service;    said   to  have 

been  discharged. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  transferred   to 

Co.  A,  Vet.  Bat. 
Disch'd  Dec.  7,  '61;  disability. 
Killed  at  Shiloh,  April  2,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Disch'd  June  19, '63;  disability. 
Prisoner  of  war;  mustered   out  of 

regiment. 
Disch'd  Jan.  8,  '62;  disability. 
Died  at  Albany,  Ind.,  June  9,  '62. 

Serg't;  died  July  18, '62;  wounds. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Disch'd  June  17, '62;  disability. 

Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Dec.  2,  '61. 

Died  July  21,  '63;  wounds. 

Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Died  at  Columbus,  Ky.,  Dec.  4,  '62. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


95 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 

McQuality,  Jas.  Aug.  5,  '6i. 
Malon,  Perry,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Nicholson,  J.  N.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Odor,  Henry  C,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Ordleb,  Lewis,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Peck,  Geo.  A.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 

Pasley,  Jos.  A.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Pasley,  M.  L,,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Pope,  John,  Aug,  5,  '61. 
Read,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Ralls,  Geo.  W,,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Rose,  Wm.  C,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Scott,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Shoi'tel,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Stephens,  Jos.  F.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Stith,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Sinnard,  Ben.  P.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Smith,  Simon  D.,  x\ug.  5,  '61, 

Ulmer,  Chas.,  Aug.  5,  '61. 
Ward,  John,  Aug.  5,  '61. 


Remarks. 

Disch'd  Nov.  25,  '62;  disability. 

Mustered  out  Aug.  20.  '64. 
Missing   since   Feb.    10,    '62;  sup- 
posed dead. 

Sergeant;    died    at    Mound    City, 

March  8,  '62. 
Mustered  out  Aug  20,  '64. 
Died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Dec.  4,  '61. 
Trans,  to  inv.  corps  Dec.  i,  '63. 
Killed  at  Ft.  Donelson. 
Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Died  April  13,  '62;  wounds. 
Mustered  out  in  the  field. 

Disch'd  Dec.  20,  '61;  disability. 
Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '62. 
Disch'd  Feb.  14,  '63;  disability. 
Disch'd  Sept.   i,  ''62^  as  corp. ;    dis- 
ability. 
Mustei-ed  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

"  "  as    ser- 


geant; 


wounded. 


I 


Allsbury,  Alex. 
Green,  Aaron. 


Murray,  Patrick. 

Nevins,  Chas. 

Perdue,  James  T.,  Dec.  22, '63. 

Stevens,  F.  M. 

Stevens  John  D. 

Smith,  Joseph. 

Walker,  Joseph  L.,Jan.  5,  '64. 
Wheeler,  And.  M. 


RECRUITS. 

Re-enlisted  at  vet. 

Mustered  out   Aug.  20,  '64,  as   1st 

sergt. 
Transferred  to  Co.  A.  vet.  bat. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet. 


Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  April  3, 

'63- 
Trans,  to  Co.  A,  vet.  bat. 

Mustered  out  May  29,  '65. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Company  "  F." 

CAPTAINS. 

David  P.  Brown,  July  27, '6i.     Res.  March  28,  '62. 

J.  C.  Lewis,  March  28, '62.         Resigned    Oct.    16,    '62;    was.ist 

lieut.  and  2d  Heut. 
Jesse  F.  Harrold,  Oct,   16,  '62.     Term  expired  Aug.   20,   '64;   was 

1st  lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

H.  C.  McCook,  July  '27,  '61.       Promoted  chaplain. 
Henry  Bevis,  Oct.  i,  '61.  Res.  Feb.   10,  '62. 

Wm.  H.  Taylor,  Oct.  16,  '62.       Term   expired   Aug.   20,  '64;  was 

2d  lieutenant. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

Ed.  C.  Sackett,  Oct.  16,  '62.         Term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 

PRIVATES. 

Rogers,  Henry,  Aug.  7,  '61,         Re-enlisted  as  vet. 
Petrey,  Solomon.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

Rouse,  Levi.  Disch'd  May  5,  '62 ;  disability. 

Company  "  G." 

CAPTAINS. 

Francis  M.  Long,  July  27,  '61.    Prom,  major. 

Daniel  H.  Hall,  Sept.  i.  '62.        Prom,  by  President  May   26,  '64; 

was  I  St  lieut. 
T.J.  Anderson,  May  27,  '64.       Term   expired    Aug.  20,   '64;  was 

1st  lieut.  and  2d  lieut. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

John  B.  Butler,  Sept.  i,  '62.         Res.  June  18,  '63;  was  2d  lieut. 
Chas  G.  Young,  Ma}^  27,  '64.      Term  expii-ed  Aug.  20,  '64. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT. 

John  C  Cox,  July  27,  '61.  Died  April  9,  '62;  wounds  rec'd  at 

Pittsburg  Landing. 


I 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  97 

Name,  and  date  of  Rattk.  Remarks. 

PRIVATES. 

Reddy,  Wm.  H.,  July  36,  '61.     Killed  at  Shiloh  April  6,  '62. 
Ready,  John  W.  Disch'd   Sept.  18, '62;  disability. 

Company  "H." 

CAPTAINS. 

H.   Blackstone,  July  27, '61.  Res.  Jan.  14, '62. 

John  H.  HufFner,  Jan.   28, '62.     Killed   in  battle   April   6,''62;  was 

1st  lieut. 
Luther  H.  Wilber,  April  7,  '62.  Died  April  28,  '62;  was  1st  lieut. 
Wm.  F.  Turney,  April  29,  '62.   Term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64;  was  2d 

lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

James  S.  Steen,July  27,  '61.        Res.  Dec.  21,  '61. 

D.  M.  Turney,  April   29, '62.   Term  expired  Aug.  20, '64. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. 

H.  H.  Hardy,  Dec.  25,  '61.       Res.  May  21, '62. 

Chris.  Corneley,  May  22,  '62.    Killed  in  action  July  12,  '63. 

PRIVATES. 

Pugh,  Isaac  R.  Prom,  regimental   quartermaster. 

Company  "  I." 

CAPTAINS. 

Ben.  B.  Bacon,  July  27,  '61.      Res.  Mar.  4,  '62. 
F.  M.  Green,  Mar  5, '62 .  Term   expired   Aug.    20, '64;  was 

2d  lieutenant. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

B.  R.  Parrish,July  27, '61.        Res.  Sept.  28, '62. 
Leander  Green,  Nov.  5, '62.       Term   expired  Aug.  20,  '64;  was 

2d  lieut. 

SECOND  LIEUTe'nANT. 

P.J.  Frederick,  Sept.  28,  '62.  Term  expired  Aug.  20,  '64. 
—13 


98  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

JVame,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

PRIVATES. 

Carmon,  Jno.  P.,  Aug.  5, '61.  Promoted  commissary  sergt. 

Gross,  Sam'l  E.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Discharged  Aug.  16,  '61. 

Jacobs,  Geo.,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 
Wells,  Elijah,  Aug.  5, '61.  " 

White,  Henry,  Aug,  5,  '61.  Died  accidental  w'nds  Sept.  13, '62. 

Wellhouse,  Peter,  Aug.  5,  '61.  Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  '64. 

VETERANS. 

Conrad,  Edward,  Jan.  21,  '64.     Transferred  to  Co.  A,  vet.  bat. 

Frazee,  Ben.  F,,  Dec.  18,  '63.      Transferred  to  vet.  bat. 

Jones,  James,  Jan.  5,  '64.  "  " 

Snyder,  Henry,  Dec.    18,  '63.  «  " 

Smith,  Wm.  H.,  Dec.  18,  '63. 

Woodward,  Sam.,  Feb.  10, '64.  "  " 

Davidson,  Jo.,  April  5,  '64. 

Gaines,  Maxwell,  Oct.  31,  '63. 

Stingley,  Daniel,  Jan,  15,  '64. 


SIXTY-THIRD    INFANTRY. 

The  Sixty-third  Infantry,  Illinois  Volunteers,  was  organized  at 
Camp  Dubois,  Anna,  Illinois,  in  the  month  of  December,  1S61,  by 
Colonel  Francis  Moro,  and  mustered  into  United  States  service 
April  10,  1S62.  Ordered  to  Cairo  April  27;  to  Henderson,  Ky., 
July  12;  returned  to  Cairo  22d.  August  4th  moved  to  Jackson, 
Tenn,,  and  assigned  to  Fourth  Brigade,  Seventh  Division,  Seven- 
teenth Army  Corps,  Col.  John  D.  Stephenson,  Seventh  Missouri 
Infantry,  commanding  brigade.  Brig. -Gen.  John  A.  Logan  com- 
_  manding  division.  November  10  moved  to  LaGrange;  2Sth 
moved  against  Pemberton,  and  returned  to  LaGrange  January  16, 
1863.  May  loth,  1863,  ordered  to  Vicksburg,  Miss.;  on  picket 
duty  at  Young's  Point  till  May  21st;  June  7th  assigned  to  Mower's 
Brigade,  and  moved  to  Millikin's  Bend.  In  an  engagement  at 
Richmond,  La.;  returned  to  Young's  Point,  thence  to  Vicksburg; 
July  5th,  1863,  moved  to  Helena,  Ark;  28th  moved   to  Memphis; 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  99 

moved  towards  Chattanooga;  November  i6th  arrived  at  Bridge- 
port, Ala.;  arrived  at  Chattanooga  November  20th;  engaged  in 
battle  at  Mission  Ridge,  23d  and  24th  of  November,  1863;  arrived 
at  Huntsville  Dec.  26th,  and  went  into  winter  quarters.  Ordered  to 
Illinois  on  veteran  furlough,  April  3,  and  returned  to  Huntsville, 
May  2ist,  1864.  June  22d  moved  to  Kingston;  command  ordered 
to  join  Gen.  Sherman;  December  loth,  1864,  arrived  at  Savannah, 
and  moved  to  Miller's  Station,  on  the  Gulf  Railroad;  started  on  a 
trip  through  the  Carolinas;  returned  to  Savannah.  Participated 
in  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  N.  C,  March  21st,  and  entered  Golds- 
boro  March  24,  1S65;  moved  to  Raleigh;  moved  from  Raleigh 
April  29th,  and  arrived  at  Richmond  May  10;  went  to  Alexan- 
dria; participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  May  24; 
moved  to  Parkersburg,  on  the  Ohio  river,  thence  to  Louisville,  Ky. 
July  13,  1S65,  mustered  out  of  United  States  service,  and  left  for 
Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  arriving  there  July  16th,  after  having  trav- 
eled 6,453  miles. 


ROSTER    SIXTY-THIRD    INFANTRY. 
Naine^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

COLONELS. 

Francis  Moro,  Dec.  i,  '61.  Resigned  Sept.  29,  '62. 

Jos.  B.  McCown,  Sept.  29,  '62.   M.  O.  April  9,  '65;  was  Lt.-Col. 

James  Isaminger, July  12,  '65.     M.  O.July  12,  '65;  was  Lt.-Col 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL. 

Henry  Glaze,  Sept.  24, '62.  Res.  June  30,  '63;  was  Major, 

MAJORS. 

Joseph  K.  Lemen,  Sept.  29,  '62.  Mustered  out  April  9,  '65, 
J.  R.  Stanford,  June  4,  '65.  "  July  ^S?  '65. 

ADJUTANTS. 

C.  S.  Chambers,  April  10, '62.     Resigned  tDec.  16, '62. 
W.  P.  Richardson,  Dec.  16, '62.  Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
Theodore  Elfes,  June  6, '65.  "  July  13, '65. 


lOO  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

John  M.  Maris,  Feb.  28,  '62.        Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
Benj,  Robertson,  June  6, '65.  «  Jwly  13, '65. 

SURGEONS. 

Wm.  M.  Gray,  May  26,  '62.        Resigned  Sept.  12,  '62. 
J.  W.  McKinney,  Sept.  15,  '62.  Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
Alex.  A.  Lodge,  June  6,  '65,        M.  O.  July  13,  '65;  was    ist   asst. 

surgeon  and  2d. 

FIRST   ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

Lyman  Hall,  April  10,  '62.  Resigned  Dec.  31,  '62. 

CHAPLAINS. 

Stephen  Blair,  April  10,  '62.         Died. 

John  Glaze,  Feb.  2,  '63.  Commission  canceled. 

George  Compton,  May  22,  '63.  Mustered  out  July  13,  '65. 

Company    « H." 

CAPTAINS. 

S.  G.  Parker,  April   10,  '62.         Discharged  July  14,  '63. 

John  M.  Davis,  July  14,  '63.        Discharged  April  30,  '64;  was   ist 

lieutenant. 
Geo.  W.  Baxter,  July  12,  '6y      M.  O.July  12,  65;  was  ist  lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Wilson  F.  Cox,  July  14,  '63.        M.  O.  May  24,  '65;  was  2d  Heut. 
A.  J.  Bixler,  July  12,  '65.  M.  O.  July  13,  '65. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

James  Houselman,  April  10,  '62.  Discharged  Dec.  2,  '62. 
Thos.  Abernethy,  July  12,  '65.    Mustered  out  July  13,  '65. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Snides,  Daniel  D.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 

SERGEANTS. 

Cox,  Wilson  T.,  Dec.  16,  '61.      Promoted  2d  lieut. 
Baxter,  Geo.  W.,  Dec.  16,  '61.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  lOI 

Name.,  and  date  of  Ra7ik.  Remarks, 

Freeman,  R,,  Dec.  i6,  '6i.  Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Mettlin,  Jas.  C,  Dec.  i6,  '61.  «  « 

CORPORALS. 

McQuay,  Jos.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 

Peterson,  J.  M.  B.,  Dec.  16, '61.  Died  at  Jackson,  Tenn.,  Sept.   15, 

'62. 
Dawson,  D.  L.,  Dec.  16,  '61 .        Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Kohr,  Samuel  W.,  Dec.  16, '61.  «  « 

Robinson,  David,  Dec.  16,  '61.    Died,  Jackson,  Tenn.,  Sept.  I4,'62. 
Law^rence,  Y.  P.,  Dec.  16,  '61.    Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
'  Hill,  Joel,  Dec.  16, '61. 
Holmes,  W.  H.,  Dec.  16,  '61.       Disch'd  Nov.  14,  '62;  disability. 

WAGONER. 

Rowe,  Absalom,  Dec.   16, '61.     Disch'd  Nov.  14, '62;  disability. 

PRIVATES. 

Ayers,  Dan.  C,  Dec.  16,  '61.       Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 

July  1 3, '65. 
Armstrong,  S.  A.,  Dec.  16,  '61.  Died  at  Cairo,  May  12,  '62. 
Abbott,  Josiah,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Abernethy,  Thos.,  Dec.  16,  '61.  Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  mustered  out 

J"ly  13'  '^5'  ^«  serg't. 
Asbury,  Levi,  Dec.  16,  '61.  Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Barnes,  Wm.  H.,  Dec.  16,  '61.  "  " 

Brockway,  A.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 

Brockway,  D.  L.,  Dec.  16,  '61.    Disch'd  Nov.  14,  '62;  disability. 
Bixler,  A.  J.,  Dec.  16, '61.  Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 

July  13,  '65,  as  1st  serg't. 
Bruce,  Fi-anklin,  Dec.  16,  '61.     Mustered  out  May  31,  '65. 
Brower,  Godfrey,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Bozarth,Jno.  S.,  Dec.  16, '61.      Re-enlisted    as   vet;  mustered  out 

>iyi3. '65- 

Buixh,  George,  Dec.  16,  '61.        Re-enlisted  as   vet.;  mustered  out 

July  1 3, '65. 
Barnhart,  Jacob,  Dec.  i6,  '61.      Died  at  Anna,  111.,  April  27,  '62. 
Baily,  Samuel,  Dec.  16,  '61.  Discharged  June  28,  '64. 

Crawford,  Eli,  Dec.  16,  '61. 


I02 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JVame^  and  date  of  Rank. 
Crawford,  Wm.,  Dec.   i6,  '6i. 

Crawford,  S.,  Dec.  i6, '6i. 
Culver,  S.  M.,  Dec.  i6,  '6i. 
Campbell,  S.  D.,  Dec.  i6,  '6i. 

Cadwallader,  A.,  Dec.  i6,  '6i. 

Church,  George,  Dec.  i6, '6i. 
Cline,  Simon,  Dec.  i6,  '6i. 
Crigler,  Wm.  H.,  Dec.  i6,  '6i, 
Doolen,  J.  L.,  Dec.  i6,  '6i. 
Day,  Richard,  Dec.  i6,  '6r. 
Earles,  Joshua,  Dec.  i6,  '6i. 
Earls,  Booker,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Ebbert,  John  J.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Ford,  Wm.  C,  Dec.  16, '61. 
Flaherty,  Jno.,  Dec.  16,  '61, 
Harrigan,  Jno.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 

Holly,  Michael,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Harman,  Jesse,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Hogan,  John,  Dec.  16,  '61. 

Jones,  James  H.,  Dec.   16,  '61. 
Lynch,  Myter,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Lacost,  John,  Dec.  16,  '61. 

Lord,  Andrew,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Meddleton,  B.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
McWilHams,  H.,  Dec.  16,  '61, 
Moore  John,  Dec.  16,  '61, 
Morgan,  Samuel,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Newton,  Wm.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Piatt,  Phinneas,  Dec.  16,  61. 
Querry,  Wm.,  Dec.   16,  '61. 

Roberts,  Jos.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 


Remarks. 

Re-enlisted  as  vet. ;  mustered  out 

July  15,  '65. 
Disch'd  Nov.  14, '62;  disability. 
Mustered  out  Api-il  9,  '65. 
Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  3, 

'64. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet.;    mustered  out 
July  13,  '65. 

Disch'd  Nov.  14,  '63;  disability. 


Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
Disch'd   Sept.  9,  '63;  disability. 
Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Re-enllsted  as  veteran. 

Re-enlisted   as  vet.;  mustered  out 
July  13,  '65. 

Re-enlisted   as  vet. 

Re-enlisted  as  vet.;  mustered   out 

July  15'  '65- 

Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
Retained  to   make  good  the  time 

lost. 
Mustered  out  April  39,  '65. 


Mustered  out  April  11,  '65. 

Re-enlisted  as   vet.;  mustered  out 
July  15,  '65. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


[O3 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Sheets,  Joseph,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Sheets,  Isaiah,  Dec,   16,  '61. 
Smith,  James,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Smith,  George,  Dec.   16,  '61. 
Sparling,  And.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Sparling,  Isaac,  Dec.   16,  '61. 

Suck,  Jacob,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Sullivan,  Orren  S.  Dec.  16,  '61. 

Umbert,  Chas.  F.,  Dec.  16,  '61, 
Wimmer,  B.,  Dec.    16,  '61. 
Wilson,  W.  A.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Wilson,  John  B.,  Dec.   16,  '61. 
Wright  Harrison,  Dec.  16,  '61. 

Watkins,  Joel,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Waller,  Eli,  Dec.   16,  '61. 
Weiver,  Isaac,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Waggoner,  Thos.,  Dec.  16,  '61  , 
Waggoner,  R.,  Dec.   16,  '61. 
Young,  George,  Dec.  16,  '6i. 
Young,  Jas.  B.,  Dec.  16,  '61. 


Remarks. 


Died  at  Mound  City  May  20,  '62. 
Re-enlisted   as   vet.;  mustered  out 

>iy  13/65. 

Re-enlisted    as   vet. 

"  "         mustered    out 

July  13/65. 

Re-enlisted  as  vet. 
Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
Disch'd  July  19, '62;  disability. 
Mustered  out  April  9,  '65. 
Re-enlisted   as   vet.;  mustered  out 

July  13.  '65- 


Re-enlisted  as  vet. 


Discharged  July  23,  '62. 
Re-enlisted  as  vet. 


RECRUITS. 


Abbott,  Isaiah,  Dec.  16,  '61. 
Beach,  Harmon,  Feb.  27,  '64. 
Davis,  Allen,  Feb.  27,  '64. 


Mustered  out  July  13,  '65. 


I. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTEENTH  REGIMENT  ILLI- 
NOIS   INFANTRY. 

This  i-egiment  left  Camp  Butler  the  4th  of  Oct.,  1862;  reported 
to  Gen.  Wright,  at  Cincinnati,  the  6th,  and  crossed  over  into  Ken- 
tucky and  reported  to  Brig.  Gen.  A.J.  Smith,  and  was  assigned  to 
Second   Brigade   Second  Division,  Army  of  Kentucky.     Passed  to 


I04  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Richmond,  Kentucky,  and  remained  there  about  two  months. 
About  the  21st  of  December,  went  to  Danville,  Ky.;  from  Dan- 
ville to  Louisville,  thence  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  went  into  camp. 
From  Nashville  to  Franklin,  and  went  into  camp.  In  March,  '63, 
under  Baird  and  Atkins,  they  assisted  in  driving  VanDorn  across 
the  Duck  river,  and  then  returned  to  camp  and  remained  until  June 
1st,  1S63.  Went  to  Triune,  Tenn.,  and  June  24,  with  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  drove  Gen.  Bragg  across  the  Tennessee.  Went 
into  camp  at  Tullahoma,  but  soon  marched  towards  Chattanooga, 
with  a  forced  march  across  the  Cumberland  mountains  to  Ross- 
ville,  Ga.  On  the  19th  and  20th  of  September,  engaged  the 
enemy  on  the  field  of  Chickamauga.  In  this  engagement,  lost  five 
men  from  Macon  county.  After  the  engagement  marched  against 
Dalton,  Ga.;  returned  to  camp  near  Cleveland,  Tenn.;  remained 
there  until  the  3d  day  of  May,  then  joined  Sherman's  Army  on  the 
Atlantic  campaign.  This  regiment  led  the  charge  at  Tunnel  Hill, 
Ga.,  and  engaged  in  battle  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  on  the  15th  and  i6th  of 
May,  1864.  This  regiment  took  an  active  part  in  the  engagements 
of  November  and  December,  1864,  which  resulted  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  Bragg's  old  veteran  army,  known  as  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, under  Gen.  Hood.  The  Brigade  to  which  the  115th  Illinois 
was  attached  for  nearly  two  years  was  known  as  the  "  Iron  Brig- 
ade." 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1864,  while  pursuing  Hood  in  his  re- 
treat from  Nashville,  Col.  J.  H.  Moore  of  the  115th  Illinois  took 
command  of  this  Brigade,  of  which  the  115th  was  a  part.  This 
position  he  kept  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  The  regiment  went  to  Huntsville,  Ala.,  and 
went  into  camp  the  5th  of  Jan.,  1865.  On  the  14th  of  March 
went  into  East  Tennessee,  then  to  Nashville,  where  it  remained 
until  it  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  the  close  of  the  war,  June 
1 1,  1865.  Arrived  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  June  16;  received  pay,  and 
discharged,  June  23. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  IO5 


ROSTER    ONE    HUNDRED  AND    FIFTEENTH   REGI- 
MENT   INFANTRY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks^ 

COLONEL. 

Jesse  H.  Moore,  Sept.  13,  '62.      Promoted  Brevet  Brig. -Gen.,  May 

i5»  '65- 

LIEUTENANT    COLONELS. 

Wm.  Kinman,  Sept.  13,  '62.         Killed  in  battle,  Sept.  20,  '63. 
Geo.  A.  Poteet,  Sept.  20, '63.       Must'd  out  June  11,  '65;  was  Maj. 

MAJOR. 

Jno.  W.  Lapham,  Sept.  20, '63.  Mustered   out  June,   11,  '65;  was 

Capt.  Co.  A. 

ADJUUTANTS. 

John  H.  Woods,  Sept.  13,  '62.     Resigned  April  10,  '63. 

A.  Litsinberger,  April  10,  '63.     Resigned  Oct.  26, '63. 

W.  W.  Peddecord,  Oct.  26, '63.   Mustered  out  June  ii,  '65. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

B.  F.  Early,  Sept.  13, '62.  Resigned  April  i,  '63, 
Chas.  W.Jerome,  April  i,  '63.    Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

SURGEONS. 

Enoch  W.  Moore,  Oct.  4,  '62.     Resigned  April  17,  '63. 
Chas.  W.  Higgins,  June  8, '63.    Declined  commission. 
Garner  H.  Bane,  June  17,  '63.     Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

FIRST    ASSISTANT    SURGEONS. 

N.  G.  Blalock,  Sept.  13,  '62.        Resigned  July  27,  '63. 
Clark  E.  Loomis,  Aug.  17,  '64.  Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

SECOND    ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

Jam«s  A.  Jones,  Oct.  3,  '62.  Murdered    by    guerrillas.   Tunnel 

Hill,  Ga.,  July  11, '64. 

CHAPLAINS. 

Arthur  Bradshaw,  Sept.  23,  '62.  Resigned  Dec.  30,  '62. 
—14 


Io6  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Richard  Holding,  Jan.  i,'63.       Declined  commission. 
Wm.  S.  Crissey,July  20,  '63.     Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

Company  "A." 

CAPTAIN. 

Jesse  Hannon,  Sept.  20,  '63.         Mustered  out  June  ii,'65;  was  ist 

lieut.  and  2d  lieut. 

FIRST     LIEUTENANTS. 

A.  C.  Bankson,  Sept.  13,  '62.       Resigned  Dec.  30,  '62. 
Jos.  B.  Gore,  Sept.  20, '63.  Mustered    out  June    11,   '63;    was 

2d  lieut. 

PRIVATE. 

Wm.  Reese,  Aug.  11,  '62.  Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Oct.  12, 

'63;  wounds. 

Company  "  E." 

CAPTAINS. 

John  M.  Lane,  Sept,  13,  '62.        Resigned  May  11,  '63. 
Jas.  A.  Whitaker,  May  11, '63.    Mustered   out  June    11,   '65;    was 

ist  lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

David  S.  MofRtt,  Sept.  13,  '62.    Resigned  Mar.  25,  '63. 
Jesse  F.  Hedges,  May  1 1, '63.      Mustered    out  June    11,  '65;   was 

2d  lieut. 

SECOND     LIEUTENANTS. 

Adam  C.  Allison,  Sept.  13,  '62.  Resigned  Feb.  28,  '63. 

I.  H.  C.  Royse,  May  1 1,  '63.        Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

PRIVATES. 

Abrams,  F.  M.,  Aug.  3,  '62.         Mustered  out  June  1 1,  '65. 

Armstrong,  J.  A.,  Aug.  13, '62.  "  " 

Armstrong,  M.  S.,  Aug.  13, '62.  Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  3, 

Ashmead,  M.  J.,  Aug.  13,  '62.     Killed  at  Chickamauga,  Sept.  20, 

'63- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  IO7 

Name^  and  date  of  Ratik.  Remarks. 

Amsler,  John,  Aug.  23,  '63.  Disch'd  June  30,  '63;  disability. 

Biddle,  Alex.  W.,  Aug.  32,  '63.  Trans,  to  V.  R.  C,  April  30,  '64. 

Breeden,  Jno.  M.,  Aug.  33,  '63.  Discharged  Jan.  5,  '63;  disability. 

Breeden,  C.  M.,  Aug.  33,  '62.  Mustered  (Hit  June  1 1,  '65,  as  corp. 
Barnes,  John  A.,  Aug.  33,  '62.  "  "  " 

Bivens,  Robert,  Aug,  23, '63.  Disch'd  Mar.  23,  '65;  wounds. 

Clements,  D.  T.,  Aug.  22,  '62.  Missing  in  action,  Sept.  20,  '63. 

Clements,  M.  H.,  Aug.  22,  '62.  Disch'd  Dec.  14,  ^62;  disability. 

Clements,  Philip,  Aug.  22, '62.  Must'd  out  June  11,  '65,  as  corp. 

Cummings,  Jno.,  Aug.  22,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Cummings,  J.  H.,  Aug.  23,  '63.  Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

Ci'ocks,  G.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '63,  Died  in  Christian  county,  111.,  Nov. 

6,  '63. 

Crafton,  John,  Aug.  33, '63.  Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March 

4,  '63- 
Clements,  E.  T.,  Aug.  13,  '63.    Must'd  out  June  11,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Douglas,  A.  C,  Aug,  13,  '62.      Promoted  hospital  steward. 

Darmer,  Jno.  O.,  Aug.  15,  '62.    Disch'd  May  15,  '65;  wounds. 

Darmer,  Wm.  C,  Aug.  15,  '62.   Mustered     out    July    i,    '65;    was 

prisoner, 

DeAtley,  A,  H,,  Aug.  13,  '62.     Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March 

3,  '63. 
Gay,  David  H.,  Aug.  13,  '62.       Disch'd  April  3,  '63;  disability. 

Hight,  James  L.,  Aug.  13,  '62.    Corporal;  transfei'red  to  V.  R.  C. 

April  30,  '64. 
Hedges,  Jesse  T.,  Aug.  13,  '62.    ist  sergt;  promoted  2d  lieut. 
Johnson,  Jos,,  Aug.  11,  '62.  Corporal;  killed  at  Chickamauga, 

Sept.  20,  '63. 
Jacobs,  Jas.  C,  Aug.  22,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  11, '65. 
Markwell,W.  A.,  Aug,  22,  '62,  Mustered  out  June  11,  '62, 
Myers,  Jno,  W.,  Aug.  15,  '62,  "  " 

Martin,  Jas,  M.,  Aug,  13,  '62,  "  "  as  sergt. 

Pope,  Zachariah,  Aug.  13,  '62.    Died    at   Lexington  Ky,,  Nov,  10, 

'62. 
Pope,  James  M.,  Aug,  13,  '62,    Died  at  Danville,  Ky.,  Dec.  3i,'62. 
Quick,  Sam.  W.,  Aug.  13,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 
Roberson,  Jer.,  Aug.   13,  '62.       Transferred  to  &ng.  corps  Aug.  11, 

'64, 


Io8  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


JVame^  and  date  of  Ra7ik.  Remarks. 

Rose,  John  V.,  Aug,  13,  '62.       Died  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  26,  '64. 
Ruby,  Henry  J.,  Aug.  13, '62.     Killed    at   Chickaniauga   Sept.  20, 

'63. 
Ruby,  Jas.  A.,  Aug.  13,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  ii,  '65. 

Rugh,  Samuel,  Aug.  13,  '62.  "•  ••' 

Wood,  Newell,  Aug.  13,  '62.  "  " 

Whitaker,  J.  A.,  Aug,  15,  '62.     Promoted  ist  lieut. 

White,  Levi,  Aug.  13,  '62.  Disch'd  Aug.  6,  '63;  disability. 

Waterman,  G.  A,,  Aug.  13,  '62. 

RECRUITS. 

Deatley,Jos.  A.,  Jan.  22, '63.       Transferred  to  Co.  A,  21  111.  Inf. 
Elder,  Wm.  F.,  Jan.  28,  '63.         Disch'd  Jan.  2.  '65;  wounds. 
Hugle,  John.  Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Sept.  14, 

'6,3. 

Company  "  F." 

CAPTAINS. 

F.  L.  Hays,  Sept  13,  '62.  Prom,  by  President   to  major  and 

payment,  April  6,  '64. 
Chas.  GrifHth,  April  7,  '64.  Mustered  out  June  11, '64. 

FIRST    LIEUTKNANTS. 

Jas.  Smith,  Sept.  13,  '62.  Res.  Feb.  6,  '63. 

Mat.  Freeman,  Feb.  6,  '63.  Died  March  30,  '63;  was  ist  lieut. 

Wm.  F.  Slocum,  Mar.  30,  '63.    Res.  Nov.  28,  '63;  was  ist  lieut. 

Jacob  Porter,  Nov.  28,  '63.  Killed  May  15,  '64. 

Gordon  W.  Mills,  May  15,  '64.  Resigned  Feb,  14,  '64. 

C.  C.  McComas,  March  13,  '65.  Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

SECOND     LIEUTENANT. 

David  Reed,  March  30,  '63.         Died  Sept.  27,  '63;  wounds. 

PRIVATES. 

Carter,  Jas.  F.,  Aug.  7,  '62.         Mustered  out  July  12,  ''d-^. 
Lutrell,  Alex.,  Aug.  12,  '62.         Killed  at   Chickamauga  Sept.   20, 

'63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


109 


Name,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Goodman,  Chas.,  Aug.  16,  '62.  Mustered  out  June   11,  '65, 

Moore,  Edward,  Aug.  18,  '62.  Disch'd  Aug.  6,  '63;  disability. 

Sanderson,  J.  D.,  Aug.  21,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 


Cline,  Andy,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Chew,  Wm.  L.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Freeland,  G.  C,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Garver,  Abe.  M.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Imboden,  C.  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Kramer,  Elias,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Kepler,  Andrew,  Aug.  11,  '62. 
Kaufman,  I.  S.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Kaufman,  M.  S.,  Aug.  1 1,  '62. 
Kolp,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Lutrell,  The.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Moore  Albert  T.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Meridith,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
"Oglesby,  C.  E.,  Sept,  11,  '62. 
Priest,  John,  Sept.  6,  '62. 
Pierce,  Wm.  W.,  Aug.  1 1,  '62. 
Roe,  Geo.  L.,  Aug.   1 1,  '62. 
Ross,  Jos.,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Roberts,  Richard,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Shively,  Alf.,  Aug.  1 1,  '62. 


Disch'd  May  30,  '63;  disability. 
Disch'd  April  i,  '63;  disability. 
Mustered  out  June  1 1 ;  '65,  as  corp. 

u  a 

Disch'd  Feb.  29,  '64;  wounds. 
Disch'd  Oct.  4,  '62 ;  disability. 
Mustered  out  June  11,  '65. 

"  "  as  sergt. 

"  "  as   Corp. 

Prom,  principal  musician. 
Disch'd  Dec.  16,  '63;  disability. 
Mustered  out  June  1 1,  '65;  sergt. 


(( 


Shull,  Richard,  Aug.  11,  '62. 

Company  "  H." 


Died  at  Franklin,  Tenn,  Apr,  6,'63. 
Disch'd  April  14,  '63;  disability. 
Disch'd  Jan.  22, '63;  disability. 
Sergt.;    killed     at     Chickamauga 

Sept.  20,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  1 1,  '65. 


CAPTAINS. 


Henry  Pratt,  Sept.  13,  '62.  Res.  April   16,  '63. 

J.  O.  Reardon,  April  24,  '63.       Mustered  out  June  ii,'65;  was  ist 

lieut.  and  2d  lieut. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

Silas  Parker,  Sept.  13,  '62.  Res.  Nov.  12,  '63. 

Jos.  J.  Slaughter,  April  24,  '63.  Mustered  out  June   11,  '65. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT. 

S.  R.  Hatfield,  March  12, '63.     Mustered  out  June   11,  '65. 


no  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

JVame^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

PRIVATES. 

Boze,  Alvis  H.,  Aug.  15,  '62.  Discharged  March  31,  '63. 

Plitsenberger,  A,,  July  6,  '63.  Promoted  com.  sergt. 

Peddecord,W.W.  Aug.  5,  '62.  Promoted  sergt.  major. 

Quinlan,  John,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Discharged  March  20,  '63. 

WeatherfordjW.,  Aug.  13,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  11,  ''6y 

Company    "K." 

captains. 

Jas.  Steele,  Sept.  13,  '62.  Dismissed  March  3,  '63. 

Alanson  Pierce,  March  3,  '63.     Resigned  Sept.  24,  '64. 
Philip  Riley,  Sept.  24,  '64.  Mustered  out  June  11,  '6=,;  was  ist 

lieut.  and  2d  lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Sylvester  Baily,  Sept.   13,  '62.     Resigned  Dec.  28,  '63. 
Sam.  Alexander,  Sept.  24,  '64.    Mustered  out  June  11,  '64. 


PRIVATE. 


Throckmorton,  J.  W. 


ONE     HUNDRED     AND     SIXTEENTH      ILLINOIS 

INFANTRY. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers 
was  made  up  almost  entirely  from  Macon  county.  The  campanies 
began  to  go  into  camp  in  the  fair  ground,  near  Decatur,  about  the 
15th  August,  1S63.  They  were  sworn  into  the  LTnited  States  service 
on  the  6th  day  of  September,  but  ranks  not  being  full,  were  only 
mustered  as  a  battalion.  On  the  31st  were  mustered  as  a  regiment. 
Left  Decatur  November  Sth,  arriving  at  Cairo  on  the  9th;  left  on 
the  same  evening  for  Memphis,  where  it  remained  until  the  26th, 
during  which  time  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  was  organized  under 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  Ill 

the  command  of  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
First  Brigade,  Second  Division.  The  commander  of  this  division 
was  Maj.-Gen.  Morgan  L.  Smith,  and  the  brigade  commander. 
Gen.  Giles  A.  Smith.  From  Memphis  marched  to  Tallahatchie, 
which  was  reached  December  13th.  On  the  20th  started  down  the 
Mississippi;  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  the  26th,  and  landed 
about  fifteen  miles  above  the  mouth  of  that  river.  On  the  next 
day  the  battle  of  Chickasaw  began,  and  continued  until  the  30th. 
This  was  the  first  engagement  of  the  regiment.  About  the  ist  of 
January,  1863,  passed  down  the  Yazoo,  and  sailed  up  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Arkansas  rivers  to  Arkansas  Post,  where  was  fought  the 
second  battle  in  which  this  regiment  was  engaged,  January  10  and 
II.  On  the  23d  landed  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  opposite  Vicks- 
burg.  During  the  winter  made  attemjDts  to  get  around  Vicksburg 
by  canals,  etc.  In  the  spring  crossed  the  river  near  Port  Gibson, 
and  were  under  fire  at  Black  River  and  Champion  Hills,  and  were 
engaged  in  the  bloody  charges  upon  the  works  in  the  rear  of 
Vicksburg,  May  18  and  22,  and  were  present  at  the  surrender  of 
that  place,  July  4th.  The  next  morning  started  in  search  of  Gen. 
Johnston,  who  was  stationed  beyond  Black  river;  followed  him 
until  he  took  I'efuge  in  Jackson,  Miss.  By  several  engagements, 
drove  him  beyond  the  Pearl  river.  Went  into  camp  near  Black 
river,  July  25th;  the  camp  was  called  Camp  Sherman.  Here  the 
regiment  remained  until  about  the  first  of  October,  then  removed 
to  Vicksburg,  then  sailed  to  Memphis,  and  then  went  to  Corinth, 
and  then  marched  for  Chattanooga,  which  was  reached  November 
2 1st.  On  the  night  of  the  33d  the  ii6th,  in  company  with  the  6th 
Missouri,  embarked  in  pontoon  boats,  floated  down  the  Tennessee 
and  landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chickamauga,  within  less  than  one 
mile  of  the  enemy's  entrenchments  on  Missionary  Ridge,  and  held 
the  position  until  the  balance  of  the  corps  was  brought  over,  and 
captured  all  of  Bragg's  pickets.  Then  marched  to  the  foot  of  the 
ridge  on  the  evening  of  the  24th ;  engaged  in  a  skirmish  in  which 
Gen.  Giles  A.  Smith  was  wounded,  the  command  of  the  brigade 
devolving  on  Col.  Tupper.  On  the  35th  were  present  at  the 
storming  of  Missionary  Ridge.  After  this  victory  this  regiment 
was  marched  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  and  was  constantly  on 
the  move  until  the  9th  of  January,  1S64;  then  went  into  winter 
quarters  at  Larkensville,  Ala.;  remained  in  quarters  until  May    16 


112  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

and  was  engaged  in  the  charge  and  capture  of  Resaca;  was  at  the 
battles  of  Dallas,  May  25  to  28,  and  Big  Shanty;  next  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  on  27th  of  June;  thence  crossed  the  Chattahoochie  and 
fought  the  battle  of  Stone  Mountain,  and  drove  the  enem}-  to  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  Atlanta,  where  the  battle  of  June  22d  was 
fought,  recapturing  the  works  after  the  enemy  had  taken  them 
from  us. 

On  the  28th  fought  the  battle  of  Ezra  Chapel,  in  which  the 
enemy  was  badly  beaten  and  driven  back;  moved  up  and  formed 
lines  wf^thii^  800  yards  of  enemy,  August  3d,  at  Atlanta,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  siege  of  that  place,  fighting  the  battle  of  Jonesboro, 
the  14th, -which  was  virtual!}^  an  end  of  the  siege.  After  the  bat- 
tle of  Jonesboro,  went  into  camp  at  Atlanta;  remained  there  until 
orders  were  given  to  break  camp  and  begin  "  Sherman's  March  to 
the  Sea,"  with  occasional  skirmishes  on  the  march,  until  the 
vicinity  of  Savannah  was  reached ;  then  participated  in  the  capture 
of  Fort  McAUistei",  on  December  13.  Then  the  regiment  marched 
to  Savannah,  and  entered  that  city  December  21,  and  went  into 
camp.  Then  took  shipping  and  went  to  Beaufort,  S.  C,  and 
marched  thence  to  Pocatalago,  and  fought  a  battle  there,  and  had 
general  skirmishing  until  the  city  of  Columbia  was  reached; 
went  into  camp  after  the  burning  of  that  city;  moved  thence  to 
Bentonville,  N.  C,  and  had  a  severe  battle;  went  into  camp; 
moved  thence  to  Raleigh,  which  surrendered  without  opposition; 
thence  ordered  to  Washington,  and  went  into  camp  and  remained 
until  ordered  home  to  be  mustered  out  of  service,  which  was  done 
June  7,  1865. 

For  some  unaccountable  reason,  no  mention  is  made  of  the  noble 
record  of  this  regiment  in  the  Adjutant  General's  Reports.  A 
similar  omission  is  made  in  the  Patriotism  of  Illinois.  T-he  brief 
history  of  the  regiment  above  given,  the  author  has  prepared  partly 
from  the  recollection  of  Capt.  William  Grason,  and  partly  from 
memoranda  furnished  by  Chaplain  N.  M.  Baker,  and  Surgeon  Ira 
N.  Barnes.  The  citizens  of  Macon  county  have  erected  to  the 
iTiemory  of  the  brave  Col.  Tupper,  in  Greenwood  Cemetery,  a 
monument,  as  a  recognition  of  his  services;  and  the  long  list  of 
killed  and  woanded  in  battle,  given  below,  will  forever  speak, 
louder  than  words,  of  the  splendid  record  of  the  ii6th. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  II3 


REGIMENTAL    ROSTER. 
Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

COLONELS. 

N.  W.  Tupper,  Sept.  30,  '62.       Died  at  Decatur,  Mar.  10,  '64. 
John  E.  Maddux,  June  7,  '65,      Mustered    out    June    7,    '65;    was 

Lieutenant  Colonel. 

LIEUTENANT    COLONELS. 

J.  P.  Boyd,  Sept.  6,  '62.  Resigned  Jan.  28,  '64. 

Anderson  Froman,  Jan.  28,  '64.  Died  June  16,  '64;  was  Major. 
John  A.  Windsor,  May  15, '65.    Must'd  out  June  7,  '65;  was  Maj. 

MAJORS. 

Austin  McCleery,  Jan.  28,  '64.    Resigned  Sept.  26,  '64. 
Nich.  Geshwind,  June  7,  '65.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  Capt. 

Company  F- 

ADJUTANTS. 

Chas.  H.  Fuller,  Sept.  30,  '62.     Resigned  June  27,  '63. 
Wm.  E.  Crissey,  June  27,  '63.     Discharged  Jan.  30,  '65. 
Myron  Holcomb,  Jan.  30,  '65.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

QUARTERMASTERS. 

Lyman  King,  Sept.  3,  '62.  Resigned  Mar.  2,  '63. 

Chas.  F.  Emery,  Mar.  2,  '62.       Prom,  by  President,  Jan.  9,  '64. 

John  H.  Porter,  Jan.  9,  '64.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SURGEON. 

Ira  N.  Barnes,  Mar.  26,  '63.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

FIRST  ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

J.  A.  Heckleman,  Sept.  17,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SECOND  ASSISTANT  SURGEON. 

J.  A.  W.  Hostetler,  Oct.  i,  '62.   Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

CHAPLAINS. 

N.  M.  Baker,  Sept.  30,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

—15 


114  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

JVame^  and  date  of  Hank.  Remarks. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    StAFF. 

Crocker,  R.  C,  Aug,  7,  '62.        Sergt.  major;  trans,  to  Co.  D. 

Holcomb,  Myron.  Promoted  adjutant. 

Ward,  Thos.  J.,  Aug.  9, '62.        Mustered    out    June    7,    '65;    was 

prisoner. 
Porter,  John  J.  Promoted  reg.  quartermaster. 

Hopkins,  Allen  F.,  Aug.  9, '62.  Quartermaster  sergt;  mustered  out 

June  7,  '65;  was  quar.  sergt. 
Crissey,  Wm.  E.,  Aug.  9, '62.     Com.    sergt.;   promoted  adjutant: 

was  com.  sergt. 
Jennings,  I.  D.,  Aug.  7,  '62.         Com.  sergt.;  mustered  out  June  7, 

'65. 
Lukens,  Edward,  Aug.  13,  '62.  Hospital    steward;    mustered     out 

June  7,  '65. 
Barret,  Martin  L.,  Aug.  14, '62.  Principal    musician;    mustered  out 

June  7,  '65. 
Henneby,  Francis,  Aug.  7, '62.    Mustered  out  June  7, '65;  principal 

musician. 

Company  "  A." 

CAPTAINS. 

W.  F.  Brown,  Sept.  6,  '62.  Resigned  April  20,  '63. 

Guston  F.  Hardy,  April  20, '63.  Died  June  12,  '63;  was  2d  lieut. 
Wm.  Grasson,  June  12,  '63.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was   ist 

lieut. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

John  B.  Perdew,  Sept.  6,  '62.      Died  March  27,  '63. 
J.  L.  Shellabarger,June  I2,'63.     Mustered  out  June  12, '65;  was  2d 

lieut. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT. 

Jas.  Boswell,  June  7,  '65.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SERGEANTS. 

Boswell,  Jas.  H.,  July  26,  '62.      Sergt.;  mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Stephens,  A.  C,  Aug.  4,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Farrow,  Geo.  L.,  Aug.  4,  '62. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  II5 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

CORPORALS. 

Harrington,  R.  H.,  Aug.  9, '62.  Disch'd  Feb.  2,  '63;  disability. 

Cox,  Jerome  A.,  Aug.  8,  ''dz.       Mustered  out  May  20,  '65. 

Stine,  Jas.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  .Discharged  Feb.  2,  '65,  as  sergnt. ; 

Eads,  James,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Baty,  Samuel,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Killed  at  Vicksburg  May  19,  '63. 

Furdeu,  Wm.  M.,  Aug.  4,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

MUSICIANS. 

Widick,  Jas.  H.,  Aug.  6,  '62.       Must'd  out  June  7,  '65,  as  private. 
Lyons,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  "  "  " 

WAGONER. 

Steel,  Wm.  M.,  Aug.  4,  '62.        Disch'd  March  4,  '63;  disability. 

PRIVATES. 

Agen,  Monathan,  Aug.  8,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  "^Sy 

Allen,  Elisha,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Died  of  wounds  received  Arkansas 

Post,  Jan.  1 1,  '63. 
Balch,  Alex.  H.,  July  26,  '62.       Died  at  Van  Buren,  Ark.,  June   i, 

'63- 
Bear,  Wm.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Died   at   Young's  Point,  March  3, 

'63. 
Bear,  Henry  C,  Aug  9,  '62.       Absent,  wounded  at  mustering  out 

of  regiment. 
Beamer,  Jacob  E.,  Aug.  21, '62.  Died  at  Memphis  Sept.  23,  '63. 
Bilby,  Geo.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Bowen,  Daniel,  Aug.  9,  '62.  "  " 

Bowdle,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  6, '62.    Discharged   Dec.  21, '64;  wounds. 
Bowman,  Sol.  S.,  Aug.  6,  '62.     Transferred   to   V.  R.  C,  Jan.  10, 

'65. 
Brackney,  Eli,  Aug.  4,  '62. 

Brown,  Wes.  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Brown,  Thos.W.,  Aug.  13,  '62.   Trans  to  inv.  corps,  Aug.  i,'63. 
Bundy,  Hardin,  Aug.  9, '62.         Died  at  Benton   Barracks  July    17, 

'63. 
Burke,  Thos.  F.,  Aug.  6.  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 


1  l6  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Caulk,  Albert,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Andersonville    prison   record  says 

died. 
Cheek,  Alonzo,  Aug.  26,  '62.       Died  at  Young's  Point,  La. 
Davis,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  2,  '62.       Sergt;  killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July 

22,  '64. 
Green,  Michael,  Aug.  6,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Glaze,  Wm.,  July  26,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  mustering  out. 

Guffy,  Nathaniel,  Aug.  6,  '62.  "  »  « 

Guffy,  Jacob,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Transferred  to  inv.  corps  August  1, 

'63. 
Hickman,  Wm.,  Aug.  6,  '62.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as   corp. 

Hollandsworth,W.  Aug.  6,  '62.  Died  at  Young's  Point  April   19, 

.       '      '63. 
Houseman,  John,  Aug.  6,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Houseman,  N.,  Aug.  21,  '62.       Absent,  sick,  at  mustering  out  of 

regiment. 
Houseman,  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62.        Transferred  to  V.  R.  C,  Aug.   10, 

'64. 
Jabine,  Jas.  T.,  Aug.   12,  '62.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 
Littleton,  T.  M.,  Aug.  28,  '62. 
Long,  Jas.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Long,  Thos.,  M.  Transferred  to  inv.  corps,  Sept.   i, 

'63. 

McKee,  And.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  .7,  '65. 

Makey,  Horace  D.,  Aug.  8,  '62.  "  "    26,  '65. 

Marsh,  Samuel  D.,  Aug.  22, '62.  Died  at  St.  Louis  April  29,  '63. 
Michener,  J.  A.,  Aug.  6, '62.       Died  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  Jan.  4^ 

'64. 
Miller,  Daniel,  Aug.  24,  '62.        Died  at  Young's  Point  March  4, 

'63. 

Morris,  Lew^is,  Aug.  5, '62.         Sergt.;    wounded;    transferred    to 

inv.  corps  Feb.  15,  '64. 
Morris,  Wm.  T.,  Aug.  8,  '62.      Died  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  Aug.  3,  '64; 

wounds. 
McCurdy,  Chas.,  Aug.  7,  '62.     Died  at  Memphis  June  28,  '63. 
Nelson,  Samuel,  July  30,  '62.       Disch'd  March  16,  '63;  disabihty. 
Ney hard,  John  J.,  Aug.  6,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  65. 
Nichols,  John  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62.   Disch'd  Feb.  6,  '64;  wounds. 


(4  a 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 


117 


JVame,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks, 

Perdew,  Joel  F.,  Aug.  9, '62.       Absent,  sick,  at   mustering   out  of 

regiment. 
Page,  Moses  B.,  Aug.  21,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Peck,  John,  July  21,  '62.  Sergt. ;  died  at  home  Sept.  28,  '63. 

Peck,  Jacob,  July  24,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Pasley,  Arthur,  Aug.  6,  '62.        Transferred  to  inv.  corps,  Dec.   i, 

'63. 
Palmer,  Jos.  V.,  Aug.  8,  '62.       Died  June  4, '63;  wounds. 
Porter,  Jno.  H.,  Aug.  20,  '62.      Promoted  quartermaster  sergt. 
Reason,  Wm.  J.,  Aug.  6,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65, 
Rimmell,  H.  M.,  Aug,  9,  '62.      Died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Jan.  21, 

'63. 
Ritter,  Jno.  M.,  Aug.  11,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Rose,  Elijah  T.,  Aug.  7,  '62.       Died  May  22, '63,  wounds  at  siege 

of  Vicksburg, 
Rundle,  Chas.  W.,  Aug.  6, '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Rogers,  Jno.  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62.     Killed  near  Kingston,  N.  C,  Mar. 

8,  '65. 
Scheer,  F.  W.,  Aug.  23,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Skinner,  John  R.,  Aug.  6,  '62.    Disch'd  Sept.  16,  '63;  of  wounds. 
Stafford,  Nelson,  Aug.  6,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Stapp,  David,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Died   at  Lawson  hospital   May  5, 

'63- 

Stewart,  Thos.  C,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was  pris- 
oner. 

Walker,  Henry,  Aug.   11, '62.     Died  at  Memphis   Tenn.,  April  3 

'64. 

Walker,  Peter,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  w'nded. 

Wear,  Jonathan,  Aug.  6, '62.  "  "  as  corp. 

Wilson,  George,  Aug.  6,  '62.       Absent,   sick,  at   mustering   out  of 

regiment. 

Wright,  C.  F.,  Aug.  6,  '62.         Died    at    Jefferson    barracks   July 

2,  '63. 

RECRUITS. 

Moffet,  Jos.  E.,  Feb.   i,  '64.         Trans,  to  Co.  H,  55th  111.  Inf 
Walters,  Wm.  J.,  Feb.  i,  '64.       Died  at  Kennesaw  Mountain  June 

27,  '64;  wounds. 


Il8  HISTOYR    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


(( 

a 

u 

u 

(( 

(( 

JVame,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

John  Leslie.  Died  of  w'nds  rec'd  at  Kennesaw 

June  27,  '64. 

Joseph  Blythe.  Wounded  at  Kennesaw  June  27. 
W.  H.  Clay.  "         Ft.  McAllister. 

John  W.  Steward.  Died  in  hospital. 

Josiah  D.  Steward.  Killed  at  Jonesboro  Aug,  13. 

M.  M.  Betzer.  Transferred  to  55th  111. 
James  Peck. 
John  McKee. 
James  McKee. 

Company  «  B." 

CAPTAINS. 

Austin  McClurg,  Sept.  6,  '62.     Promoted  Major. 
C.  Reibsame,  Jan.  28,  '64.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was  ist 

Lieutenant. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS.  » 

John  S.  Taylor,  Sept.  6,  '62.        Killed  Jan.  8,  '63. 
Chas.  E.  Bolles,  Jan.  28,  '64.       Commission  canceled;  was  2d  lieut. 
John  H.  Miller,  Jan.  28,  '64.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was  2d 

lieut. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

A.J.  Williams,  Sept.  6,  '62.         Resigned  Mar.  17,  '63. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Isaac  D.  Jennings,  Aug.  7,  '62.    Promoted  com.  sergeant. 

SERGEANTS. 

Miller,  John  H.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Promoted  2d  lieut. 

Menaugh,  W.  T.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  regt. 

Songer,  John  A.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  July  10,  '65,  as  priv. 
Songer,  Adiniron,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

CORPORALS. 

Brown,  K.  A.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Funk,  William,  Aug.  8,  '62.  "  " 

Rogers,  Reuben,  Aug.  9,  '62.  "  "  as  priv. 


I 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I  I9 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

.Shirley,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  9, '62.      Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Troutman,  J.  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Troutman,  Sam.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  "  " 

MUSICIANS. 

Carter,  H.  W.,  Aug.  8,  '62.  Discharged  Jan.  28,  '63. 

Goodman,  J.  E.,  Aug.  11,  '62.     Discharged  Sept.  20,  '63. 

WAGONER. 

Welty,  Geo.  H.,  Aug.  12,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  James,  Aug.  5,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Andrews,  J.  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62.        Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Boles,  Chas.  E.,  Aug.  13,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt; 

com'd  lieut. 
Billings,  Milton,  Aug.  8,  '62.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Bear,  John  M.,  Aug.  6, '62.         Sergeant;  absent,  sick,  at  muster 

out  of  regiment. 
Bradon,  John  E.,  Aug.  11,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Burgess,  T.  J.,  Aug.  5,  '62. 
Baily,  John  W.,  Aug.  15,  '62.      Mustered  out  July  1,  '65,  as  corp.; 

wounded. 
Beck,  William,  Aug.  15,  '62.        Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Bills,  R.,  Jr.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Killed  at  Arkansas  Post,  January 

II, '63. 
Braden,  S.  R.,  Aug.  12,  '62.        Absent,  wounded,  at  muster  out  of 

regiment. 
Bradshaw,  S.  C,  Aug.  9,  '62.      Died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  April 

3,  '63- 
Burke,  Patrick,  Aug.  7,  '62.         Died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  April 

8,  '63. 
Burke,  William,  Aug.  7,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Bell,  Charles  V.,  Aug.  15,  '62.    Died  in  Mississippi,  Mar.  23,  '63. 
Dilliner,  James,  Aug.  7,  '62.         Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Daily,  Austin,  Aug,  19,  '62.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Disbrow,  Lewis,  Aug.  14, '62.     Sergeant;  died  at  Young's  Point, 

April  15,  '63. 


I20 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Dugan,  Michael,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Earls,  Stephen,  July  19,  '62. 
Enterline,  E.,  Aug.  19,  '63. 
Enos,  Thomas,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Enterline,  Conrad,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Ellis,  David  A.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Frank,  S.  G.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Foster,  John  W.,  Aug.  20,  '62. 
Fry,  Amos,  July  19,  '62. 
Fuller,  Fred.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Gill,  John,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Garver,  F.  M.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Garver,  C,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Houck,  Lewis,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Huggins,  J.  H.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Henson,  R.  S.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Houck,  Geo.  L.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Hays,  Thompson,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Henley ,or  Heneby,F.Aug.  7,'62. 
Hays,  John  G.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Hough,  John  S.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Jordan,  John  W.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 

Jordan,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Jordan,  Jeremiah,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Kelley,  Michael,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Larken,  T.  H.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Maher,  Edward,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
McWhinney,  Jno.,  July  30,  '62. 
Myer,  William,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
McDonald,  R.,  July  17,  '62. 
Nolan,  Patrick,  Aug.  21,  '62. 
Nix,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Nesbitt,  H.  W.,  Aug.  11,  '62. 
Olney,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  11,  '62 
Pricer,  Aaron,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Peaker,  John  W.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 


Remarks. 

Mustered  out  July  2,  '65. 
Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Discharged  March  14,  '63. 
Died  at  Young's  Point,  Feb.  1 1,'63. 
Discharged  March  20,  '64. 
Trans,  to  V.  R.  C,  Sept.  i,  '63. 
Died  at  St.  Louis,  April  11,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  ''Gy 
Mustered  out  July  19, '65;  w'nded. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


(( 


(C 


as  corp. 

Died  at  St.  Louis,  May  17,  '63. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

"  "      was  pris'r. 

« 


(( 


(( 


Promoted  principal  musician. 
Discharged  Aug.  7,  '63. 
Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  Feb. 

8,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Died  at  Young's  Point,  February 

II, '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


(( 


(( 


(( 


(( 


as  corp. 
Deserted  Nov.  13,  '62. 
Died  at  Memphis,  Oct.  4,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Died  at  Keokuk,  la.,  Jan.  27,  '63. 
Died  at  Memphis,  Mar.  17,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Absent,  wounded,  at  M.  O.  of  reg. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  121 

Natne^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Patterson,  A.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Patterson,  G.  W.,  Aug.  20,  '62.  Killed      at      Kenesaw     Mountain, 

June  27,  '64. 
Quackenbush,  S.,  July  30,  '62.     Mustered  out  July  10,  '65. 
Rogers,  R.  A.,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Reibsame,  C,  Aug.  11,  '62.         Promoted  sergt.,  then  ist  lieut. 
Rutherford,  G.  W.,  Aug.  8, '62.  Mustered  out  June  7, '65. 
Smoot,  Ben.  F.,  Aug.  9,  '62.        Died  at  Young's  Point,  February 

15,  '63. 
Sherman,  Jas.  D.,  Aug.  20,  '62.  Died  on  steamer  City  of  Memphis, 

May  25,  '63. 
Street,  Wesley,  Aug.  15,  '62.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Stains,  John  A.,  Aug.  8,  '62.        Died  at  Young's  Point,  June  4,'63. 
Shelton,  Martin,  Aug.  11,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Shepherd,  J.  H.,  Aug.  9, '62. 

Sickafonse,  J.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '62.  "  " 

Shepherd,  A.,  Aug.  8,  '62.  Killed  at  Arkansas  Post,  January 

II, '63. 
Shutter,  Daniel,  Aug.  9,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Tolles,  Cyrus  N.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Wall,  Richard,  Aug.  14,  '62.  « 

Wydick,  John,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Weikel,  Samuel,  Aug.  15,  '62.     Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg- 
Westfall,  J.  W.,  July  30,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 
Wheeler,  Amos,  Aug.  11,  '62.     Sick  at  muster  out  of  regiment. 
Warnick,  W.  C,  Aug.    15,  '62.  Sick  at  muster  out  of  regiment. 
Wheeler,  A.  J.,  Aug.  12,  '62.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

RECRUITS. 

Sites,  Henry,  Feb.  25,  '64.  Trans,  to  Co.  F,  55th  111.  Inf. 

Shutter,  Felix,  Feb.  24,  '64.  " 

Westfall,  Jas.  K.,  April  13, '64. 

Company  "  C." 

captains. 

Thos.  White,  Sept.  6,  '62.  Killed  in  battle  May>  26,  '64. 

—16 


122  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

R.  M.  Foster,  June  7,  '64.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was   ist 

lieut.  and  2d  lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

Jas.  M.  Wallace,  Sept.  6,  '62.       Resigned  March  2,  '63. 
Z.  R.  Prather,  April  20,  '65.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was  2d 

lieut. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANT. 

Jacob  B.  Schroll,  June  7,  '65,      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Ellis,  John  W.,  Aug.  9, '62.         Died  at    Young's    Point   Feb.  23, 

'63- 

SERGEANT. 

Metzler,  Abe.,  Aug.  13, '62.         Wounded  at  muster  out  of  regt. 
Camp,  W.  P.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Died   at  Milliker's  Bend  June  23, 

'63. 
Montgomery,  T.,  Aug.  9,  '62.     Trans,  to  V.  R.  C,  Feb.  i,  '64. 

Davidson,  John  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Died  at  Young's  Point  Feb,  8,  '63. 

CORPORALS. 

Dunbar,  Elias  1^.,  Aug,  9,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Edwards,  J.  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.       Disch'd  April  13,  '63;  disability. 
Fenton,  Philo  S,  Aug.  9,  '62.      Absent,  wounded,  at  muster  out  of 

regiment. 
Maeyers,  Sam.  T.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Jones,  Jas.  H.,  Aug.  13,  '62.         Disch'd  Feb.,  '63;  wounds. 
Markel,  Israel  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Died  at  Memphis  Feb.  30,  '63. 
Prather,  Z.  R.,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Promoted  2d  lieut. 
Warnick,  R.  G.,  Aug.  9,  '62.       Died  at  Memphis,  May  22,  '63. 

MUSICIANS. 

Helpman,  D.  C,  Aug.  9,  '62.       Mustered    out    July    22,   '65;  was 

prisoner. 

Wallace,  W.  R.,  Aug.  6,  '62.       Died   on  steamer    D.  A.  January, 

March  7,  '63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I23 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

WAGONER. 

Niles,  Erastus,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

PRIVATES. 

Aaron,  James  L.,  Aug.  9,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Altum,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  13, '62.      Died   at  Young's  Point  May    12, 

'63- 
Akers,  Wm.  A.,  Aug.  18,  '62.     Died  at  Young's    Point    Feb.   10, 

'63. 

Black,  Robert  M,,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Disch'd  June  3,  '63;  disability. 

Beedles,Jas.  P.,  Aug.  9,  '62.        Died  on  City  of  Memphis,  March 

16,  '63. 

Bohrer,  John  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Bohrer,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.     Disch'd  Jan.  9,  '63;  disability. 

Champion,  A.  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Cochran,  Jas.  A.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  "        July,  '65,  as  corporal, 

prisoner  of  war. 

Coomb,  Elijah,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Devore,  Jos.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Discharged  April  25,  '64. 

Dickey,  Jno.  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62.        Trans,  to  signal  corps  June  7,  '64. 

Davidson,  Jas.  B.,  Aug.  9, '62.     Disch'd  Feb.  5,  '63;  disability. 

Davidson,  D.  L.,  Aug.  13, '62.  Mustered  out  July  11,  '65;  prison- 
er of  war. 

Davis,  Wm.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Davidson,  R.  L,,  Aug.  9,  '62.      Died  at  home  Dec.  5,  '63. 

Dividson,  Alex.,  Aug.  13,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Davidson,  D.  P.,  Aug.  13,  '62.  »  " 

Davidson,  T.  K.,  Aug.  15,  '62.    Killed   near  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Aug. 

3i>  '65- 
Ellis,  Jas.  A.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Gregory,  David,  Aug.  9,  '62.       Died  at  Louisiana  April   16,  '63. 

Grennel,  Chas.,  Aug.  9,  '62.        Died  at  Mound  City  Dec.  15,  '63. 

GofF,  Edward  L.,  Aug.  9,  '62.     Died  at  Mound  City  Nov.  2,  '63. 

Goff,  Leonard  J.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  wag- 
oner. 

Gault,  John  M.,  Aug.  9,  '62.       Absent,  wounded,  at  muster  out  of 

regt. 


124 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 
Hopkins,  A.  F.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Hill,  Joshua  F.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Herrington,  D.  J.,  Aug.  11,  '62. 

Howell,  E.  J.,  Aug.  it,  '62. 

Jones,  Hugh,  Aug.  13,  '62. 

Krone,  Jacob,  Sept.   15,  '62. 
Mcllheran,  John,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Maeyers,  John,  Aug.  9,'62. 

Montgomery,  Eli,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
McConnaughty,  S.  B.       " 

Myers,  Wm.  J.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

May,  Henry  F.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 

McMurty,  J.  L.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 

Pound,  D.  K.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Riber,  E.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 

Stoner,  John  H.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Smith,  John  R.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Smith,  Jos.  P.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Snyder,  Sam.  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Stine,  Hiram  S.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Scott,  James,  T.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Scott,  Henry  C.,  Aug.  9,  '62, 

Schroll,  Jacob  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Spaulding,  J.  A.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Turpin,  Beechem,  Aug.  9,  '62. 


Remarks, 

Prom,  sergt.,  then    quartermaster 
sergt. 

Prisoner  of  war;  died  July  23, '63  » 
wounds. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  musi- 
cian. 

Died  at   Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.    15, 
'65.     Prisoner  of  war. 

Died  at  Memphis,  Tenn,,  Dec.  24, 

'62. 
Died  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  Feb.  20,  '64 
Absent,  wounded,  at  muster  out  of 

regt. ;  prisoner  of  war. 
Died  at  Andersonville  prison,  June 

17,  '64. 
Died  at  Mound  City  Dec.  7,  '64. 
Died  at  Walnut  Hills,  Miss.,  May 

19,  '63;  wounds. 

Disch'd  Jan.  24,  '63;  disability. 

Disch'd  March  20,  '63;  disability. 

Must'd  out  July  I,  '65;  was  pris. 

"  June  7,  '65 ;  was  pris. 

"  "  was    prom. 

sergt. 
Mustered  out  May  27,  '65. 
Disch'd  Feb.  6,  '64;  disability. 
Disch'd  Aug.  4,  '63;  disability. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Disch'd  July  7,  '63;  disability. 
Disch'd  Jan.,  '63;  disability. 
Died    at     Memphis    July    8,  '63; 

wounds. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Com.  2d  lieut. ;  was  prisoner. 
Died    at    Camp    Sherman,    Miss., 

Aug.  6,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  125 


JVame^  and  date  of  Rank,  Remarks. 

Thomas,  Wm.,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Died   at   Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.   10, 

'64;  prisoner  of  war. 
Traughber,  R.  S.,  Aug.  9,  '62.    Died  on   Stmr.  City   of  Memphis 

Feb.  8,  '63. 
Travis,  J.  D.  C,  Aug.  13, '62.     Disch'd  Feb.  16,  '63;  disability. 
Travis,  Isaac  W.,  Aug,  13,  '62.  Died  at  St,  Louis  Sept.  2,  '63. 
Travis,  Sam.  H.,  Aug.  13,  '62.    Died  on  Stmr.  Planet  Jan.  5,  '63. 
Travis,  U.  D.,  Aug.   13,  '62.         Died  in  La.,  April  27,  '63. 
Timmons,  Eph.,  Aug.  12,  '62.     Disch'd  Feb.  25,  '63;  disability. 
Timmons,  Lam.,  Aug.  13,  '62.    Died  at  Memphis  Maixh  16,  '63. 
Traughber,  H.  C,  Aug.  18,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Urbain,  John,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Disch'd  Sept.  5,  '63;  disability. 

Vliet,  Amos  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Wallace,  Wm.,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Disch'd  April,  '63;  disability. 
Ward,  Thos.  J.,  Aug.  9, '62.        Sergt. ;    prom,    sergt.    major;  vv^as 

prisoner  of  war. 
Wilson,  Robt.  D.,  Aug.  9,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Webber,  Lewis,  Aug.   18,  '62.     Died  at  Richmond,  Va.,  March  16, 

'64. 

RECRUITS.       • 

Aaron,  John  C,  Feb.  11,  '64.  Trans,  to  Co.  F,  55th  111.  Inf. 
Baker,  N.  M. 

Devore,  Benjamin  F.  Trans,  to  Co.  K,  before  muster  in. 

Dulaney,  John,  March  29,  '64.  Trans,  to  Co.  F,  55th  111.  Inf. 
Johnson,  W.  H.,  Feb.  27,  '64.  «  "  " 

Kimberlin,  John  A.  Trans,  to  Co.  K,  before  muster  in. 
Kitt,  Samuel. 

Company  «  D." 

CAPTAINS. 

Joseph  Lingle,  Sept.  6,  '62.  Resigned  Feb.  29,  '64. 

Geo.  A.  Milmine,  Feb.  29,  '64.    Discharged  Jan.   30,  '65;  was   ist 

lieut.  and  2d  lieut. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

Jas.  R.  Briggs,  Sept.  6,  '62.  Resigned  April  6,  '63. 


126  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Reinarks. 

Thad.  Collins,  Feb.  29,  '64.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was  2d 

lieut. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT. 

Hugh  A.  Lyons,  June  7,  '65.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

George,  J.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '62.        Discharged  Aug.  3,  '63. 

SERGEANTS. 

Hoagland,  J.  E.,  Aug.  7, '62.        Disch'd  June  7,  '63;  disability. 
Williams,  G.  W.,  Aug.  7,  '62.     Died  on  steamer  City  of  Memphis 

Feb.  18,  '63. 
Collins,  Thad.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Promoted  2d  lieut. 

Lyons,  Hugh  A.,  Aug,  13,  '62.  Mustered    out  June  7,  '65,  as    1st 

sergt.;  com'd  2d  lieut. 

CORPORALS. 

Armstrong,  D.  T.,  Aug.  13,  '62.     Sergeant;  died  at  St.  Louis  April 

7,  '63. 
Bowser,  John  F.,  Aug.  9,  '62.      Died  at  Chattanooga  May  21,  '64; 

wounds. 

Gill,  David,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Died    at    Chickasaw  Bayou    Dec. 

3I'  '62. 

Watson,  A.  J.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Streever,  J.  B.,  Aug.  9, '62.  Died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  Novem- 
ber I,  '63. 

Spore,  Seth  F.,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Trans,  to  Co.  F,  55th  111.  Inf. 

Slifer,  N.  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Long,  J.  G.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Died   at  Richmond,  Va.,  Feb.  20, 

'64;  prisoner  of  war. 

MUSICIANS. 

Barger,  Elias,  Aug,  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Robertson,  Amos,  Aug.  13, '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 

WAGONER. 

Emery,  C.  F.,  Aug.  8,  '62.  Discharged  March  2,  '63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 


127 


JVame^  and  date  of  Rank. 


Re?narks. 


PRIVATES. 


Armstrong,  John,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Adams,  Andrew,  Aug.  11,  '62. 

Antrim,  B.  F.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Allen,  J.  L.,  Aug.  9,  '63. 
Amber,  Wm.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Amber,  H.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Adams,  Joel  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Arbuckle,  J.  I.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Alexander,  Sam.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Briggs,  Wm.,  Aug.  9,  '63. 
Belford,  R.  A.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Chism,  John  A.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Chapman,  L.  N.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Cory,  Arthur  O.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Cooper,  N.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 

Craft,  John,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Corn,  A.  F.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Crocker,  R.  C,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Davidson,  E.  H.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Daves,  Wm.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Evans,  Andrew,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Emerick,  Geo.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Elliott,  J.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Fesler,  Isaac,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Fenner,  John  W.,  Aug,  9,  '62. 

Fesler,  Larkin,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Gash,  H.  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Huckaboy,  Jas.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Kline,  John,  Aug.  15,  '62. 


Corporal;  died  at  Richmond,  Va., 
Jan.  27,  '64;  prisoner  of  war. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Died  at  Young's  Point  January 
20,  '63. 

Died  at  Vicksbui'g,  July  25,  '63. 

Mustered  out  June  8,  '65. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 

Died  at  home  Dec.  21,  '63. 

Discharged  Feb.  1 ,  '63. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  pris- 
oner of  war. 

Died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  March 
6,  '63. 

Died  at  St.  Louis  April  5,  '64. 

Died  on  steamer  City  of  Memphis 
Feb.  18,  '63. 

Promoted  sergeant  major.  ' 

Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Corporal;  died  at  Annapolis,  Md., 
Aug.  25,  '63. 

Discharged  April  3,  '63. 

Killed    at    Walnut    Hills,    Miss., 

May  19,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

a  1.1. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 
Discharged  Jan.  19, '63. 


128 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Kennedy,  John,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Lukens,  Edwards,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Lukens,  Wm.  F.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Listen,  J.  E.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Locke,  Philip,  Aug.  27,  '62. 
McKeever,  H.  D.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Miller,  John,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Miller,  Clarke,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Millmine,  E.  K.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Martin,  Robert,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
O'Neal,  Barnett,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Pope,  Richard,  Aug.  23,  '62. 
Payne,  Sanford,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Plater,  J.  Y.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Querry,  James,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Querry,  Eri,  Aug.  18,  '62. 
Ray,  Alonzo,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Rinehart,  Wm.,  Aug.  15,  '62. 

Reed,  Squire,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Ryan,  Joseph,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Shannon,  W.  G.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Schenck,  B.  W.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Schenck,  Wm.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Sperling,  Jacob,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Smith,  Fred.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

vScott,  David,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Sellers,  Peter,  Aug.  18,  '62. 
Salters,  J.  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Shannon,  John,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Sandy,  Edward,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Thornburg,  Thos.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Towers,  Wm.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Tooly,  Charles,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Vanler,  Wm.  A.,  Aug.  5,  '62. 
VanVoorhees,  S.  N.,  Aug.  9,'62. 


1.1. 

(.1. 

(( 

(( 

«( 

« 

(( 

(( 

(( 

Remarks. 

Promoted  hospital  steward. 
Died  in  Mississippi  June  22,  '63. 
Killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,'64. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


as  pns. 


Discharged  Sept.  2,  '63. 
Discharged  Sept.  23,  '63. 
Discharged  March  12,  '63. 
Sergeant;  died  at  Memphis  April 

4.  '63- 
Mustered  out  June  7,'65 ;  prisoner. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Discharged  Jan.  19, '63. 

Died  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March 

19,  '64. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


(( 

(( 

i( 

(( 

as  corp, 

(( 

{( 

(( 

(( 

1.1, 

as  sergt 

Sergeant;     died      at      Cleveland, 

Tenn.,  Jan.  28,  '65. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65 ;  was  pris. 
Discharged  Aug.  12,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7, '65. 

Discharged  Feb.  6,  '64. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


(( 


Discharged  Jan.  16,  '63. 
Discharged  January,  '63. 


as  corp. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1 39 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Williams,  A.  G.,  Aug.  ii,  '62.    Died  at  Richmond,  Va.,  March  5, 

'64;  prisoner  of  war. 
Williams,  M.  J.,  Aug.  11,  '63.     Died  at  St.  Louis  March  26,  '63. 
Withers,  Alex.,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Died  at  Young's   Point  March  23, 

'63. 
Withers,  Ira,  Aug.  9,  '63.  Died  at  Milliken's  Bend  April   27, 

'63. 
Wright,  A.  J.,  Aug.  13, '63.        Died    at   Young's   Point   Feb.    17, 

'63. 
Zinn,  Jacob,  Aug.  15,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

RECRUITS. 

Briggs,  Alex.  Died  on  Stmr.  Planet  Jan.  20,  '63. 

Gill,  Wm.  H.  II. 
Harris,  E. 

Company  «  E." 

captains. 

Lewis  J.  Eyman,  Sept.  6,  '62.     Killed  Jan.  1 1,  '63. 
J.  S.  Windsor,  Jan.  31,  '63.  Promoted  major. 

R.  M.  Hamilton,  Sept.  26, '64.    Mustered   out  June  7, '65;  was  ist 

lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS- 

S.  H.  Varney,  Sept.  6,  '63,  Resigned  March  5,  '63. 

Jos.  D.  Noon,  March  5,  '63.         Died  June  18,  '63. 
Wm.  N.  Streeter,  June  3,  '63.     Resigned   May  37,  '64. 
Sam,  J.  Varney,  Sept.  26,  '64.     Died  small  pox  Feb.  13,  '65. 
W.  H.  Dickerson,  Apr.  20,  '65.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SECOND     LIEUTENANTS. 

W.  L.  Harris,  Sept.  6,  '62.  Resigned  June  28,  '63. 

Amsi  H.  Baker,  June  7,  '65.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SERGEANTS. 

Mackey,  L.  J.,  Aug.  15,  '62.         Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  regt. 
Hamilton,  R.  M.,  Aug.  15,  '62.   Promoted  ist  lieut. 

—17 


130  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Noon,  Jos.  D.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Died  at  Memphis,  June  18,  '63. 

Baker,  Amsi  H.,  Aug.  6,  '62.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  com'd  2d 

lieut. 

CORPORALS. 

Evman,  Ed.  C,  Aug.  6,  '62.        Died  at  Milliken's  Bend  April  26, 

'63- 
Boyd,  E.  H.,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Died  at  Young's  Point  Feb.  23,  '63. 

Gepford,  Jer.,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  2,  '65. 

Rinehart,  Joel,  Aug.  2, '62.  "  June  7, '65. 

Ey man,  John,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Trans,  to  V.  R.  C,  Jan.  15,  '64. 

Danley,  John,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Parr,  Andrew,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Goodner,  Geo.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 


MUSICIANS. 

Kitch,  Robert  G.,  Aug.  6,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Gepford,  Silas,  Aug.   10,  '62. 

WAGONER. 

Nicholson,  H.  B.,  Aug.  6,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  Wm.  G.,  Aug.  8,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Boyd,  James  H.,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  regt. 
Benton,  Chas.  F.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  "  «  " 

Brewer,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Bullard,  Chas.  S.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  regt. 

Bruce,  Joel,  Aug.  8,  '62.  Died  at  Young's  Point  Feb.  9,  '63. 

Bruce,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Died  at  Decatur  Aug.  31,  '63. 

Benton,  E.  L.,  Aug.  8,  '62.  Died  on  hospital  boat  Mar.  18,  '63. 

Barnhart,  J.,  Aug.   10,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  prisoner 

of  war. 

Burt,  Silas,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Clark,  Ira  E.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Died  at  Decatur,  111.,  Nov.  6,  '62. 

Corn,  John  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Cross,  Jacob,  Aug.  6, '62.  " 

Clark,  Chas.  H.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 

Carver,  M.,  Aug.  7, '62.  Died    at    Young's    Point    Feb.  11, 

'63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I3I 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Reynarks. 

*ox,  John  H.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Discharged  at  wSt.  Louis. 

Cross,  Israel  M.,  Aug.  9,  '62.       Died  at  Young's  Point  March  26, 

'63- 
Dickerson,  W.  H.,  Aug.  3, '62.  Promoted  corporal,   sergeant   and 

1st  lieut. 

Downey,  John,  Aug.  6,  '62.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Danley,  F.  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62.         Died  at    Young's   Point  March  5, 

•63- 

Douglas,  S.  A.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Dunham,  L.  H.,  Aug.   13,  '62.  Trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  May  i,  '64. 

Eaton,  Michael,  Aug.  8,  '62.  Discharged  Nov.  25,  '63. 

French,  H.  W.,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Trans,  to  inv.  corps,  Sept  30,  '63. 

Farnam,  M.  A.,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Farnam,  Stephen,  Aug.  2,  '62.  "  "  as   sergt. 

Farnam,  Chester,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Corporal;    killed   at    Resaca,    Ga., 

May  14,  '64. 

Farnam,  David,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Farnam,  Lindsay,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Free,  James,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Fov^^ler,  J.  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62,  Killed  at  Walnut  Hills,  Miss.,  May 

I9>  '63. 
Gooden,  Jos.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Greeley,  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  "  "  as     corp. 

Graham,  Thos.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  "  " 

Gass,  E.  M.,  Sept.  29,  '62.  Died  at  Memphis  Oct.  31,  '63. 

Gepford,  W.  H.,  Sept.  16,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 
Hornbeck,  S.  C,  Sept.  18,  '62.  «  " 

Houser,  Geo.  W.,  Sept.  i8,  '62.  "  "  as   corp. 

Houston,  Wm.,  Aug.  2,  '62.         Killed  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22, 

'64. 
Hunt,  Wm.,  Aug.  2,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Holcomb,  Byron,  Aug.  2,  '62.     Promoted  sergt.  major. 
Hawk,  James  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 
Hobbs,  Jacob  J.,  Aug.  6, '62.       Sergt.;  died  July  30, '64;  wounds. 
Havener,  Jos.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Harrison,  Ben.,  Aug.  6,  '62.         Died  at  Camp  Butler  Feb.  24,  '64. 
Hatchett,  Jno.  H.,  Aug.  6,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  sergt, 
Jones,  Young  P.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 


'32 


HISTORY    OK    MACOX    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Johnson,  F.  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Jones,  Wm.  G.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Johnson,  E.  M.,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
James,  J.  L.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Kitch,  Solomon,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Kile,  Edward  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Kelsey,  Harper,  Aug.   13,  '62. 
Kile,  John  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Land,  Moses,  Aug.  6,  '62. 

Nelson,  Eli,  Aug.  7,  '62. 
Pettit,  Geo.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Parr,  James  H.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 

Rittenhouse,  I.  W.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 

Rager,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Shartzer,  A.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Sprague,  Jas.  .H.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Stocton,  R.  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Sollars,  R.  G.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Stout,  Leonard,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Sprague,  Nat.,  Aug.  5,  '62. 
Smalley,  Allen,  Aug.  6,  '62. 

Snyder,  Thos.  A.,  Aug.  18,  '62, 
VanGundy,  Geo.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Varney,  Sam.  J.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 

Wheeler,  Larkin,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
White,  Lewis  E.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Wood,  Basil,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Young,  Jos.  H.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 


Remarks. 

Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Died  at  Decatur,  111.,  Oct.  16,  '63. 
Discharged  June  14,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 


(( 


(( 


Died  at  Memphis  Aug.  5,  '63. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Died  at   Cherry   Grove,   111.,  Nov. 

25'  '63- 
Disch'd  Feb.  iS,  '65;  disability. 

Died  near  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  31, '64. 

Died   at  Young's   Point  March  2, 

'63. 
Coi"p.;  died   at    Decatur,  111.,  Sept. 

29,  '64;  wounds. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


(.i. 
(« 


"  "  as    sergt. 

Discharged  Sept.  16,  '64. 
Discharged  March  28,  '64. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 
Died    at   Camp    Sherman,    Miss., 

Aug.  31,  '63. 
Died  at  St.  Louis  July  3,  '63. 
Died  at  Young's  Point  Mar.  i6,'63. 
Sergt;  com'd  istlieut. ;  not  must'd; 

died  at  Annapolis  Feb.  3,  '65. 

Discharged  Aug.  14,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Died  at  Memphis  April  13,  '63. 


Benton,  William  P. 


RECRUITS. 

Died  at  Memphis,  January,  '63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  I  33 

Nanie^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Company  "  F." 

captains. 

Sam'l  N.  Bishop,  Sept.  6,  '62.     Resigned  April  12,  '63. 

N.  Geschvvind,  April  12, '63.         Promoted  Major. 

Wm.  P.  Goodner,  June  7,  '65.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

FIRST     lieutenants. 

John  B.  Tutt,  Sept.  6,  '62.  Died  Jan.  26,  '63. 

S.  R.  Riggs,  April  12,  '63.  Resigned  Dec  11,  '64. 

John  A.  Cochran,  June  7,  '65.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SECOND  lieutenants. 

E.  R.  Pratt,  Sept.  30,  '62.  Died  March  30,  '63. 

J.  C.  Stansbury,  April  28,  '63.     Died  April  19,  '63. 
John  P.  Lewis,  June  7,  '65.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

privates. 

Lourish,  Benj.,  Sept.  5,  '62.  Died  at  Young's   Point  February 

15.  '63- 
Lourish,  David,  Aug.  11,  '62.       Discharged  March  20,  '63. 
Young,  Geo.  E.,  Sept.  14,  '62.     Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Company  "  G." 

captains. 

Alonzo  B.  Davis,  Sept.  30,  '62.    Died  Dec.  22,  '63. 
Harvey  Mahannah,  Dec.  22,'63.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was  ist 

lieut. 

FIRST     lieutenant. 

Jas.  P.  Barnett,  Dec.  22,  '63.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SECOND     lieutenants. 

Lafayette  Helm,  Sept.  30,  '62.     Died  Feb.  16,  '63. 
Byron  Barrett,  Mar.  15,  '63.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


■      134  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Retfiarks. 

FIRST    SERGEANT. 

Barnett,  Jas.  P.,  Aug.  ii,  '62.      Prom,  ist  lieut. 

SERGEANTS. 

Landis,  D.  B.,  Aug.  18,  '62.         Wounded;    transferred    to    V.   R. 

C.  Sept.  15,  '63. 
Davis,  Wm.  B„  Aug.  12,  '62. 

Doyle,  Michael,  Aug.  9,  '62.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Burdick,  Z.  C,  Aug.  12, '62.  «  « 

CORPORALS. 

Smith,  Wm.,  Aug.  1 1,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 
Rouse,  Oren  S.,  Aug.  12,  '62.  "  "  « 

Kitrick,  Abe.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Bragg,  John  E.,  Aug.  12, '62.  "  " 

MUSICIAN. 

Rea,  David,  Aug,  12,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

W^AGONER. 

Horton,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 

PRIVATES. 

Andrews,  Elijah,  Sept.  28,  '62. 

Andrews,  Elias,  Sept.  28,  '62. 

Barret,  M.  L.,  Aug.  14,  '62.         Promoted  principal  musician. 

Barrett,  Chas.,  Sept.  14,  '62.         Died  at  Young's  Point   February 

22,  '63. 
Brooks,  Wm.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 

Baird,  Joseph  C,  Aug.  12,  '62.    Discharged  March  31,  '63. 
Cotterell,  Thos.,  Aug.  12,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Crissey,  Wm.  E.,  Aug.  12,  '62.  Promoted  com.  sergeant. 
Dickey,  Wm.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '62.  Killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,'64. 
Dickey,  D.  A.,  Sept.  9, '62.  Corporal;  killed   at   Atlanta,  Ga., 

July  22,  '64. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


135 


Name^  aitd  date  of  Rank. 

Fry,  Wm.,  Sept.  9,  '62. 
Fuller,  Lafayette,  Sept.  29,  '62. 
Gant,  Jackson,  Sept.  11,  '62. 

Higgins,  Jno.  T.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Howell,  Brice,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Howell,  Lewis,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Hoots,  Alex.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Helm,  John  S.,  Aug.  18,  '62. 
Harper,  C.  R.,  Aug.  11,  '62. 
Hooker,  Wm.  C,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Huston,  Servantus,  Aug.  i3,'62. 
Huusley,  C.  E.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Henson,  J.,  Aug.  20,  '62. 
Hanks,  Dunham,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Kemp,  Isaac,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Kemp,  Philip,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Lyons,  Wm.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Lickliter,  G.  W.,  Sept.  29,  '62. 
Lukens,  John,  Aug.  14, '62. 
Latham,  Henry,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Moore,  David,  Aug.  20,  '62. 
Moore,  Wm.,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Mahannah,  H.,  Aug.  11,  '62. 
Mott,  Geo.  W.,  Sept.  11,  '62. 

Rosa,  S.  W.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Rhodes,  Wm.  H.,  Sept.  iS,  '62. 
Smith,  A.  L.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Smith,  Wm.  C,  Aug.  21,  '62. 

Shupp,  Samuel,  Aug.  26,  '62. 

Shasted,  Wm.  E.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 

Smith,  T.  W.,  Aug.  11,  62. 
Startsman,  L.,  Aug.  18,  '62. 


Remarks. 

Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Died  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  October 

10,  '63. 
Detached  at  muster  out  of  repf. 


Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 

Died  Jan.  12,  '65;  wounds. 
Died  at  Memphis  March  30,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


(( 
(( 


Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 
Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Died  at  Memphis  May  i,  '63, 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  woun'd. 


(( 
(( 


Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Discharged  Feb.  18,  '65,  as  sergt.; 
wounds. 

Discharged  March  11,  '63. 

Discharged  Dec.  18,  '62. 

Died    at    Young's    Point  January 

27»  '63- 

1st  sergt.;  absent,  sick,  at  muster 

out  of  regiment. 
Died   at  Young's    Point  February 

20,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


136  HISTORy    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Secrist,  Wm.,  Aug.  i2,'62.  Died  at   Moand  City,  111.,  August 

I,  '63. 
Smith,  Jno.  W.,  Sept.  18,  '62.      Discharged  Sept.  12,  '63. 
Schmitz,  M.,  Sept.  13,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Spear,  Wm.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Discharged  March  3,  '65. 

Troxell,  John  A.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  June   15, 

'63. 
Willett,  Jas.  L.,  Aug.  12,  '62.       Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 

Williams,  L.  A.,  Aug.  17,  '62.     Transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  December 
Wheeler,  Wesley,  Aug.  12, '62.    Discharged  June  6,  '63. 

Company  "  H." 
captains. 

J.  L.  Dobson,  Sept.  30,  '62.  Resigned  June  13,  '63. 

John  P.  Lamb,  June  13,  '63.         Resigned  Dec.  22,  '64. 
Chas.  P.  Essick,  April  20,  '65.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

FIRST    lieutenants. 

Isom  Simmons,  April  28,  '63.      Killed  Dec.  22,  '64. 

Jas.  Goodwin,  April  20,  '65.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SECOND    lieutenants. 

The.  Short,  Sept.  20,  '62.  Died  Feb.  6,  '63. 

Wm.  W.  Winn,  June  7,  '65.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

MUSICIAN. 

Robinson,  Jos.  Sept.  18,^62.         Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  Dec.  17,  '63. 

PRIVATE. 

Sollars,  Chas.,  Sept,  10,  '62. 

RECRUIT. 

Bacon,  Geo.  W.,  Feb.  28,  '64.     Trans,  to  Co.  F,  55th  111.  inf. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I37 


Name.,  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Company  "  I." 

CAPTAINS. 

Uriah  P.  Forbes,  Sept.  30,  '62.   Resigned  April  25,  '63. 

John  F.  Bishop,  April  25, '63.     Resigned    March  30,  '64,  was   ist 

lieut. 
Isaac  N.  Martin,  Mar.  13,  '64.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was   ist 

lieut. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANT. 

Fred.  vSchwah,  March   13,  '64.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Irwin  Miller,  Sept.  30,  '62.  Dismissed  Jan.  19,  '65. 

Joshua  K.  Carr,  June  7,  '65.         Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SERGEANTS. 

Sheppard,  F.  M.,  Aug.  13,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  priv. 
Carr,  Joshua  K.,  Aug.  6, '62.  "  "  as        ist 

sergt.;  com.  2d  lieut. 
VVorkheiser,  E.,  Aug.   14,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  priv. 
Phillips,  W.  li.,  Aug.  22,  '63.      Priv.;  detached   at    muster    out  of 

regiment. 

CORPORALS. 

Vermillion,  M.,  Aug.  14,  '63.      Priv.;  died  Larkinsville,  Ala.,  Feb. 

4,  '64. 
Carter,  J.  E.,  Aug.  8,  '62,  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  priv. 

Martin,  Geo.,  Aug.   12, '62.  "  "  as  sergt. 

Hammond, J.  H.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  "  "  as  priv. 

Schuh,  Peter,  Aug.  13,  '62.  "  " 

Kingsberry,  Asa,  Aug.  8,  '62.     Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
vScott,  John,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  priv, 

Mendenhall,  G.  W.,Aug.  8, '62.  "  «  was  pris. 

MUSICIAN. 

Whelan,  Henry,  Aug.  32,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65, 

—  18 


138 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Art,  Joseph,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Bavth,  Jacob,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Bratz,  Jacob,  Aug.  14,  '62. 


Remarks. 

PRIVATES. 

Died  on  hospital  boat    March    15, 

'63. 
Died  on  hospital  boat    March   15, 

'63- 
Died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  Feb. 

22, '63. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


(( 


(( 


as  Corp. 
as  sergt. 


(( 


Bailey,  G.  C,  Aug.  18,  '62. 
Barnett,  Samuel,  Sept.  27,  '62 
Conaly,  M.  C,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Collins,  E.  R.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Cline,  Henry,  Aug.   15,  '62. 
Cothen,  Cors,  Aug.   14,  '62. 
Church,  Geo.  W.,  Aug.  11,  '62.  Transferred  to  Co.  A,  55th  111,  Inf. 
Drain,  Joseph,  Aug.  22,  '62.         Disch'd  May  5,  '65;  disability. 
Enkie,Jno.  Q.,  Aug.   14,  '62.       Disch'd  April  8,  '63;  disability. 
Ebert,  Henry,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Sergt.;  absent,  sick,  at  muster   out 

ot  regiment. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 


Fry,  Michael,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Flaherty,  J.  J.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Fulk,  Henry,  Aug.  16,  '62. 
Flaherty,  M.,  Aug.  27,  '62. 
Fulk,  John  W.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 


Fry,  John,  Aug.  22,  '62. 


Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Must'd  out  June  7,  '65;  was  pris. 

Died  at  Young's  Point,  La.,  Jan. 
29,  '63. 

Trans,  to  Co.  A,  55th  111.  Inf. 
Guthrie,  David,  Aug.  14,  '62.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Guthrie,  Wm.  S.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Died  at  Young's  Point  Feb.  9,  '63. 
Gehrt,  Ferd.,  Aug.  21,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Garver,  Dan.  H.,  Sept.  19, '62. 

Gloden,  Michael,  Aug.  14,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 
Goodpasture,  J.,  Aug.  9,  '62.       Discharged  Oct.  9,  '62 ;  writ  habeas 

corpus. 
Hammond,  T.  R.,  Aug.  9,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as   sergt. 


Hoff,  Michael,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Harris,  Henry,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Heinold,  And.,  Aug.  12,  ''62. 
Herrindeen,  O.,  Sept.  27,  ''dz. 


as    corp. 


«( 


Died  at  Quincy,  111.,  Mar.  25,  '65. 
Died   on   hospital   boat    March    13, 

'63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


139 


JVame^  and  date  of  Rank. 

Jenkins,  S.  T.,  Sept.  10,  '63. 
Keller,  Mathias,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Kitchen,  J.  B.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Koehler,  Ernest,  Aug.  12,  '62. 

Latch,  J.,  jr.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Latch,  Geo.  B.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Latch,  Theo.  R.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Morganthall,  J.,  Aug.  8, '62. 
Martin,  Jo^^n,  Aug.    14, '62. 
Miller,  Alex.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 

Miles,  Samuel,  Aug.   13,  '62. 
Mang,  John,  Sept.  26,  '62. 
Miller,  Henry  S.,  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Morrel,  Andrew,  Aug.   14,  '62 

Mendenha,  H.,  Aug.  20,  '62. 
Nier,  Fred.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Odle,  Wm.,  Aug.  12,  '62. 
Reynolds,  S.  V.,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Smith,  Val.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Smoot,  M.  A.,   Aug.  14,  '62. 
Strickland,  Jos.,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
Shinnaman,  H.,  Aug.  19,  '62. 
StumpfF,  John,  Aug.  19,  '62. 
Smith,  Fred.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Smith,  E.,  Sept.   13,  '62. 
Tool,  Geo.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Vogle,  Philip  A.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 
Veail,  David,  Aug.  13,  '62. 
Witt,  Michael,  Aug.  29,  '62. 
Westerhaver,  H.,  Aug.  8,  '62. 

Younger,  Josiah,  Aug.   12, '62. 

Younger,  J,  Q.,  Aug.  14,  '62. 


Remarks. 

Disch'd  Jan.  24,  '63;  disability. 
Died  at  Quincy,  111.,  Oct.  25,  '63. 
Disch'd  March  27,  '63;  disability. 
Died  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  Feb. 
19,  '64. 


Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Killed    at    Resaca,    Ga.,    May    14, 

'64. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Disch'd  Sept.   2,  '63;  disability. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Killed  at  Arkansas   Post  Jan.    11, 

'63. 
Disch'd  March  6,  '63;  disability. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  65. 

Disch'd  March   11,  '63;  disability. 

Died  at  Decatur  Oct.  8,  '62. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Died  on  str.  Planet  Feb.  18,  '63. 

Died  at  Evansville  Jan.  10,  '65. 

Died  at  St.  Louis  March  4,  '63. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 

Trans  to  V.  R.  C.  May  i,  '64. 
Disch'd  May  22,  '63;  disability. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65, 
Wagoner;  absent,  sick    at   muster 

out  of  regiment. 
Corp.;  killed  at  Vicksburg  July  2, 

'63. 
Disch'd  Mar.  28,  '63;  disability. 


L40  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Young,  Wm.,  Aug.  12,  '62.         Corp.;  absent,  wounded,  at  muster 

out  of  regiment. 

RECRUIT. 

Miller,  Wm.  H.,  Aug.  12,  '62.    Trans,  to  Co.  A,  55th  111.  Inf. 

Company  "  K." 

CAPTAINS. 

John  E.  Maddox,  Sept.  30,  '€2.  Promoted  Lieut.  Col. 
Jas.  H.  Glore,  June  15, '64.  Mustered  out  June  7, '65;  was    ist 

lieut.  and  2d  lieut. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS, 

John  S.  Windsor,  Sept.  30,  '62.  Promoted  captain  Co.  E. 
Jos.  D.  Mackey,  June  15,  '64.      Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SECOND     LIEUTENANTS. 

N.  W.  Wheeler,  Sept.  30, '62.     Killed    March    19,  '63;     siege    of 

Vicksburg. 
H.  G.  Eppler,  June  7,  '65.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

SERGEANTS. 

Green,  G.  W.,  July  17,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

1/IcCann,  Thos.  Died  at  Milliken's  Bend,  La.,  May 

8,  '63. 
Dermot,  Jas.,  July  9,  '62.  Disch'd  March  20,  '64,  as  priv. 

CORPORALS. 

Tedroe,  Wm.  L.,  July  26,  '62.     Mustered  out  June  7,  '65;  was  pris. 
Stackhouse,  John,  Aug.  6,  '62.  "  " 

PurtrofF,  John,  July  29,  '62.         Died  at  Mound  City  Sept.  7,  '63. 
Young,  J.  J.  H.,  July  14,  '62.       Discharged  April  11,  '63. 
Harbour,  M.  V.,  Aug.  14,  '62.    Sergt.;  absent,  wounded,   at  mus- 
ter out  of  regiment. 
Thompson,  Wm.,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Herrin,  John,  Aug.  14,  '62.  Died    at   Young's   Point    May  24, 

'63- 
Griffin,  Wm.  T.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


141 


Name^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

MUSICIANS. 

Mclntyre,  Dan.,  Aug.  15,  '62.     Discharged  July  3,  '64. 
Berickman,  B.  C,  Aug.  19,  '62. 

WAGONER, 

Young,  Wm.,  Aug.  6,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

PRIVATES, 

Ater,  Geo.,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Trans  to  Inv.  Corps  Sept.  t,  '63. 

Ashberry,  J.  W.,  Aug.  24,  '62.    Corp.;  died  at  Rome,  Ga.,  Sept.  9, 

'64;  wounds. 
Brewer,  Wm.  J.,  Aug.  14,  '62.    Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Burt,  G.  W.,  Aug.  15,  '62.  Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  Jan. 

17, '64. 
Died  at   Young's   Point    February 

23.  '63- 
Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Died  at  Young's  Point  February 

3/63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 


Baird,  C.  M.,  July  25,  '62. 

Badger,  James,  July  22,  '62. 
Brooks,  Jasper,  Aug.  24,  '62. 


Brooks,  R.  K.,  Aug.  24,  '62. 

Chafin,  Amos,  Aug.  15,  '62. 

Coleman,  Adam,  Aug.  15,  '62.    Died  at  Memphis  March  21, '63. 

Clarke,  Michael,  Aug.  28,  '62.     Died  at  Memphis  Jan.  31,  '63. 

Carr,  Clark,  Aug.  22,  ''dz. 

Clay,  Wm.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 

Collins,  Naman,  Aug.  8,  '62.        Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Cook,  N.  T.,  July  15,  '62. 

Clark,  Hugh,  July  22,  '62. 

Cox,  Jerome,  Aug.  8,  '62. 

Chafin,  Joseph,  Aug.  25,  '62. 

Deboy,  George,  Aug.  13,  '62.      Died  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,July  25, '64; 

wounds. 
Devore,  Benj.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Died  at  Decatur  Nov.  18,  '63. 

Eldridge,  B.,  Aug.  19,  '62.  Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

Epler,  Hiram.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  sergt. 

Follis,  Levi,  Aug.  11,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Follis,  Alex.,  Aug.  11,  '62.  Died  on  hospital  boat  May  23,  '63. 

Fry,  Jesse,  Aug.  7,  '62.  Discharged  January  8,  '65. 


Discharged  July  i,  '63. 


142 


HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY. 


JVame,  and  date  of  Rank. 
Gingle,  Andrew,  Aug,  6,  '62. 

Hunter,  J.  S.,  Aug,  15,  '62. 
Hix,  Richard,  Aug.  27,  '62, 
Hampshire,  Wm.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Herrold,  J.  A.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 

Hegar,  or  Haaka,H.  Aug.  28,'62, 

Heck,  John,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Holder,  Wm.,  Aug.  i,  '62. 
James,  Jacob,  Aug.  11,  '62. 

James,  Daniel,  Aug.  11,  '62. 
Johnson,  J.,  Aug.  25,  '62. 
Jones,  J.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Kimberland,  J.  A.,  Aug.  i5,'62. 
Luster,  Wm.,  Aug.  11,  '62. 
Leigh,  G.  W.,  Aug.  2,  '62. 
Mattox,  Maley,  Aug.  14,  '62. 

McGloughlin,  M.,  Aug.  6,  '62. 
Murphy,  Patrick,  Aug.  20,  '62. 
McCantus,  Owen,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Maples,  Jacob,  Aug.  15,  '62. 
McCune,  Wm.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
O'Neil,  John,  Aug.  25,  '62. 
Poindexter,  S.  H.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 
Poyner,  S.,  Aug.  16,  '62. 
Purkey,  David,  Aug.  7,  '62. 

Ryan,  James,  Aug.  15,  '62, 

Reed,  J.  W,,  Aug.  8,  '62. 
Reed,  T.  J.,  Aug.  22,  '62. 

Staines,  Daniel,  Aug.  15,  '62, 


Remarks. 

Missing  since   May  31,   '65;    sup- 
posed insane. 
Discharged  May  6,  '65,  as  corp. 
Died    on  hospital  boat  Jan.  31,  '63, 
Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  Sept, 

3O'  '63- 
Died  at  Big  Shanty  June  23,  '64; 

wounds. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Died  at   Chattanooga  June  14,  '64. 
Killed  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22, 

'64. 
Died  at  St.  Louis  July  20,  '63. 
Died  at  Decatur  Nov.  25,  '62. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 


Died  at  Memphis  Nov.  26,  '62. 
Corporal;  died  at   Young's   Point 

Feb.  I,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 
Discharged  Dec.  4,  '63. 

Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 

((  u  u 

Discharged  Sept.  29,  '63. 
Absent,  sick,  at  muster  out  of  reg. 
Died  at  Pana,  111.,  June  20,  '64. 
Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  Sept. 

I,  '63. 
Sergeant;    died    at    Big    Shanty, 

Ga.,  July  17, '64;  wounded. 
Died  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  Oct.  5, '63. 
Died  at    Young's  Point  February 

ii,'63. 
Died  at  Young's  Point  February 

7,  '63. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I43 

JVame^  and  date  of  Rank.  Remarks. 

Shields,  John,  Aug.  15,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Shoemaker,  David,  Aug.  8,  '62.  "  " 

Shaw,  Henry,  July  15,  '62.  Discharged  April    15,  '63. 

Smith,  C.  R.,  July  25,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

See,  William,  Aug.  27,  '62.  Discharged  April  10,  '63. 

Terril,  David  B.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65,  as  corp. 

Vest,  Toliver,  July  17,  '62.  Com.  in  2d  Miss.  Colored  Inf. 

Wannell,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  9,  '62.  Mustered  out  June  7,  '65. 

Wallace,  David,  Aug.  12, '62.  "  « 

Wood,  Jas.  W.,  Aug.  18, '62.  Died    at  Young's    Point   January 

31'  '63- 

RECRUITS. 

Chappin,  E.  C,  Nov.  3,  '62.        Killed  at  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  14, '64. 

Dobson,  John. 

Hines,  Wm.,  Feb.  15,  '64. 

Richardson,  Isaac.  Died  at  Camp  Butler  Mar.  26,  '64. 


a 


CHAPTER     V. 

THE  DEEP  SNOW." 


Among  the  memorable  events  associated  with  the  early  history 
of  the  county,  is  the  "  deep  snow."  This  is  one  of  the  land-marks 
of  the  early  settler.  It  is  his  mile-stone,  from  which  he  counts  in 
dating  preceding  or  succeeding  events.  He  reckons  the  date  of  his 
coming,  his  marriage,  and  the  births  of  his  children,  from  it.  You 
ask  him  the  age  of  John,  Sarah  or  Susan,  and  he  seldom  fails  to 
fix  their  births  at  so  many  years  before  or  after  the  deep  snow. 
You  may  locate  a  certain  event  as  occurring  Anno  Domini,  so  and 
so,  and  your  ante-deep-snow  resident  will  at  once  commence  count- 
ing on  his  fingers  the  intervening  years  between  the  deep  snow 
and  the  particular  time  in  question,  in  order  to  verify  your  date. 
The  fact  is,  that  the  deep  snow  was  an  important  and  ver}'  extra- 
ordinary phenomenon.  There  has  been  nothing  equal  to  it  in  this 
latitude  for  the  last  hundred  years — if  the  Indian  traditions  are  cor- 
rect as  to  what  occurred  before  the  white  man's  advent.  Accord- 
ing to  their  traditions,  as  related  to  the  first  white  settlers,  a  snow 
fell,  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  years  before  the  settlement  by  the 
white  people,  which  swept  away  the  immense  herds  of  buffalo  and 
elk  that  then  roamed  over  our  vast  prairies.  This  tradition  was 
verified  by  the  vast  quantity  of  buffalo  and  elk  bones  remaining  in 
different  localities  upon  our  prairies  when  first  visited  by  white 
men. 

The  deep  snow   under  consideration  occurred   in    the  winter  of 
i830-'3i. 

It  commenced  snowing  early  in  the  fall,  and  continued,  at  inter- 
vals, throughout  the  entire  winter.     The  snow  falls   would  be  sue- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I45 


ceeded  by  heavy  sleets,  forming  crusts  of  ice  between  the  layers  of 
snow.  There  were  weeks  that  the  sun  was  not  visible,  and  the 
cold  was  so  intense  that  not  a  particle  of  snow  would  melt  upon 
the  sides  of  the  houses  facing  the  south.  People  were  for  weeks 
absolutely  blockaded  or  housed  up,  and  remained  so  until  starva- 
tion compelled  them  to  go  forth  in  search  of  food,  or  to  procure 
corn  and  to  get  it  ground  at  the  few  horse  mills  then  in  the  coun- 
try. It  may  be  of  interest,  in  this  connection,  to  relate  an  incident 
connected  with  the  early  history  of  the  late  Abraham  Lincoln, 
who  was  at  that  time  a  resident  of  Macon  county.  Late  in  the 
winter,  Mr.  Lincoln  and  John  Hanks,  with  great  difficulty  made 
their  way  across  the  Sangamon  to  a  horse  mill  owned  by  Robert 
Smith,  five  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Decatur,  for  the  purpose 
of  getting  some  corn  ground.  They  found  Mr.  S.  in  the  field 
gathering  corn.  He  had  succeeded  in  getting  a  road  opened  to 
the  field,  and  would  drive  a  yoke  of  oxen,  attached  to  a  sled,  to  the 
end  of  the  road,  lift  the  sled  around,  turning  the  cattle  in  the  direc- 
tion from  which  they  came,  and  then,  with  baskets,  gather  the 
corn  that  was  exposed  above  the  snow,  and  carry  it  and  deposit  it 
in  the  sled.  Mr.  S.  was  engaged  at  this  when  Mr.  Lincoln  made 
his  appearance,  requesting  his  "  grist  "  to  be  ground.  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  asked  if  he  had  to  labor  under  such  difficulties  on  his  side  of 
the  river.  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "we  have  to  do  worse  than  that,  for  we 
have  used  up  all  of  our  corn,  and  now  have  to  go  to  our  neighbors 
for  assistance." 

It  is  not  known  that  any  one  starved  or  was  frozen  during  this 
trying  ordeal;  but  suffering,  hunger  and  untold  hardships  were 
endured  by  the  people.  Game,  such  as  prairie  chickens,  quails, 
deer,  etc.,  prior  to  that  time,  had  been  abundant,  but  for  years  after- 
wards was  very  scarce,  having  perished  in  the  snow.  Deer  were 
often  caught  and  killed  without  the  aid  of  guns  or  other  fire-arms, 
being  unable  to  get  through  the  snow  or  walk  on  top.  Later  in 
winter,  when  the  mass  of  snow  and  ice  had  become  compact, 
fences  that  were  staked  and  ridered  were  driven  over  with  heavily 
loaded  vehicles,  and,  in  fact,  in  places  could  not  be  seen.  The 
snow  is  usually  estimated  at  three  feet  deep  at  places  where  it  was 
not  drifted,  and  of  course  would  have  been  much  deeper  than  that 
if  it  had  fallen  in  a  short  space  of  time.  In  the  spring,  when  this 
immense  amount  of  snow  melted,  the  river  and  streams  were  very 
—19 


146  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

high,  and,  for  this  reason,  it  was  ahnost  as   difficult   to   get   from  a 
place  as  it  was  during  the  winter. 

THE    "SUDDEN   i^REEZE,"    OR    "SUDDEN    CHANGE." 

In  January,  1836,  occurred  an  extraordinary  atmospheric  phen- 
omenon experienced  by  the  residents  of  this  county,  known  as  the 
"  sudden  freeze."  It  was  attended  with  loss  of  life  to  both  man 
and  beast,  and  the  most  intense  suffering  from  cold.  Incidents  are 
related  in  connection  with  this  "  sudden  change,"  that,  to  the  in- 
credulous, seem  marvelous  and  highly  colored,  and  as  some  have 
expressed  it,  "  rather  fishy."  Immediately  preceding  the  storm 
the  ground  had  been  covered  with  snow,  which,  from  rain  falling 
on  the  day  of  the  occurrence,  had  become  "  slushy."  The  storm 
came  from  the  northwest,  and  the  clouds,  upon  its  approach, 
assumed  a  very  threatening  and  extraordinary  aspect,  those  above 
being  dark,  and  those  below  of  a  white,  frosty  appearance.  The 
air  seemed  to  be  filled  with  innumerable  particles  of  frozen  mist, 
and  the  moment  the  storm  struck  the  unfortunate  person  away 
from  shelter,  he  seemed  to  be  instantaneously  transferred  from  a 
temperate  to  a  most  frigid  zone.  The  father  of  the  writer,  as  this 
storm  approached,  was  going  on  an  errand,  not  over  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  distant.  As  he  went,  the  ground  was  covered  with  sleet  and 
water;  on  his  immediate  return  home,  the  ice  had  formed  sufficient 
in  thickness  that  he  could  walk  on  top. 

"  The  late  Gen.  I.  C.  Pugh  left  town  on  horseback  in  the  rain, 
for  his  home  on  the  Bloomington  road,  and  when  he  reached  the 
large  pond  which  formerly  lay  on  the  east  side  of  North  Water 
street,  the  cold  v^^as  so  intense  that  long  needles  of  ice  were  shoot- 
ing over  the  surface  of  the  pond  in  every  direction,  presenting  a 
very  singular  appearance,  and  in  a  few  moments  it  was  frozen  en- 
tirely over.  The  late  Dr.  Thomas  Read  came  near  freezing  to 
death  on  the  prairie,  on  his  way  to  Shelbyville,  on  horseback,  at 
that  time,  and  several  persons  did  lose  their  lives  by  being  on  the 
prairie  and  unable  to  reach  a  shelter.  Cattle  that  were  in  the 
fields  were  held  fast  by  the  "slush"  freezing  about  their  feet,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  cut  away  the  ice  to  liberate  them.  Ducks  and 
geese  were  imprisoned    in   the  same  way.     It  was   scarcely   fifteen 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 


147 


minutes  from  the  time  the  cold  wave  swept  over  the  place,  before 
the  water  and  melting  snow  were  hard  enough  to  bear  up  a  horse."* 
Another  instance  is  related  of  a  man  who  came  into  his  house 
and  remained  but  a  few  minutes,  when  some  member  of  the  family 
came  in  and  remarked  that  the  ice  and  snow  had  frozen  so  hard 
that  it  would  bear  a  person  up.  The  man  at  once  flatly  contra- 
dicted the  assertion,  and  accused  the  person  making  it  of  prevarica- 
tion, and  was  only  convinced  when  he  had  made  the  experiment 
himself. 

METEOROLOGICAL. 

In  connection  with  the  above  atmospheric  phenomena,  we  would 
desire  to  extend  our  observations,  but  there  have  been  no  records 
kept  in  this  locality  until  within  the  last  two  years.  Meteoi'ology 
is  a  science  entitled  to  as  much  consideration  as  astronomy  or  other 
natural  sciences.  It  owes  its  origin  to  the  observations  and  study 
of  meteors  and  their  connection  with  the  planetary  system.  It  has 
extended  its  field  so  as  to  embrace  atmospheric  phenomena,  and 
their  climatology,  as  well  as  the  changing  influences  of  nature  on 
land  and  sea.  Records  are  now  being  made  and  tabulated,  from 
which  much  ver}-  valuable  information  may  be  derived  by  the 
great  agricultural  west.  We  have  no  doubt  but  a  few  years  more 
of  observation  and  study  of  this  science,  will  result  in  the  predic- 
tion of  all  unusual  and  extraordinary  atmospheric  phenomena, 
with  almost  as  much  certainty  as  eclipses,  transits,  etc.,  are  foretold. 
We  give  below  tables  of  observations  made  at  Decatur  for  the  last 
twenty-one  months,  which,  so  far  as  we  know,  is  the  only  record 
kept  in  the  county. 

*Historical  sketch  of  Macon  County,  read  at  Decatur,  July  4,  1876. 


I4S 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


SYNOPSIS 


Of  Meteorological  Record  for  the  twenty -one  months  commencing 
April  1st,  iS'/Si  (i^id  ending  December  jist,  iSyd ;  Decatur, 
III.;  latitude,  jg  dcg.  jj  min.;  longitude,  88  deg.  50  min.; 
elevation  of  barometer  above  mean  sea  level,  68j.iy  feet. 

Table  No.   i. 


BAROMETER. 

THERMOMETER. 

t-i 

. 

^ 

a 

a 

0 

— ■" 

Range. 

Range  . 

C3 

Oj 

^ 

a 

sj, 

1 
2 

0 

1 
5=' 

0 

1875, 

en 

0 

0 

'6 
> 

-a 
a) 

> 

00 

SI 

a 

c 
0 

□Q 

00    «j 

^1 
0 

.-  C 

,., 

c 

. 

0 

m 

<o 

>> 

C  G 

'^.  -^^ 

? 
c 
>. 

£ 
>, 

0 

en 

s 

•c 

0 

s 

>> 

OS 

c 

Cm 

0 

0. 

•5 

o; 

tf. 

t 

,c 

fci 

E 

5 

^ 

3 

Xl 

Si 

c 
0 

fco 

ta 

0 

y. 

s 

a 

c 

c 

0 

c 

0    • 

1^ 

30.252 

hJ 

0 
.783 

s 

82 

ii 
20 

3 

62 

S 

^ 

<l 

2 

s 

April 

•2!I.9-AS 

29.469 

52.17 

10 

1.81 

.71 

May 

2!t.895 

30.432 

29.261 

1.171 

62.68 

88 

3" 

58 

78 

14 

9.42'.... 

Mean  of  2  spring 

months,  1875 

29.909 
39.927 

57.42 
71.40 

24 
16 

11.23 

6.41 

•> 

.71 

June 

30.232 

29.595 

.637 

92 

44 

48 

84 

Jiilv 

29.868 

30.223  29.6.^0 

.573 

77.63 

95 

litl 

35 

81  4 

18 

12.49 

August 

29.888 

30,239 
30.276 

29.539 
29.654 

.700 

71.38 

88 

50 

38 

80.12 

11 

4.77 

Mean  of  sum'r. 

29,894 
30.029 

.622 

73.47 
64.53 

81.84 
77.13 

45 
6 

23.67 
2.23 

Sept 

90 

33 

57 

October 

30.005 

.30.474 

29.390 

1.084 

.52.02 

80 

27 

53 

74.38 

7 

2.82 

November 

30.05.5 

30.646 

29.619 

1.027 

39.64 

67 

13 

54 

75.07 

6 

1.25 

1 

6 

.... 

Mean  of  fall . . . 

30.029 
29.945 

52.06 
40.32 

75.52 

75.74 

19 
8 

6.30 
1.37 

Dscember 

30.393 

29.377 

l.Olfi 

74 

-^ 

78 

1.8 

Mean  of!)  m'ths 

ending  Dec.  31/75 

29.948 

30.646 

29.261 

1.385 

59.08 

95 

—4 

99 

78.23 

96 

42.57 

8 

1.79 

1876. 

January 

30.096 

30.638 

29.336 

1.302 

37.12 

69 

4 

65 

71.11 

10 

3.  £6 

o 

1.1 

February 

30.067 

30.510 

29.428 

1.082 

36.61 

70 

—5 

75 

67.08 

6 

3.56 

5 

3. 

Mean  of  winter 

1875-'76 

30.036 
29.976 

30.459 

29.113 

1.346 

38.01 
37. 3s 

71.31 
72.16 

24 
11 

8.19 
5.84 

13 
11 

5  9 

Marcli 

74 

10 

(>4 

18.8 

April 

29.95-i 

30.249 

29.363 

.931 

54.06 

82 

30 

52 

61.88 

11 

3.57 

May 

•29.925 

30.299 

29.632 

.667 

66.23 

89 

36 

63 

61.49 

8 

3.13 
12.54 

11 

Mean  of  spring. 

29.951 



52  55 

65.17 

30 

18  8 

HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


149 


Table  No.   i. —  Continued. 


BAROMETER. 

THERMOMETER. 

a 

.a 

a 
a 
0 

a 
>) 

s 

a 
0 

2 

a 
2 

.c 

? 
a 
>> 

C3 
■a 

Ct-. 

0 

a> 

.a 
a 
a 

;? 

a 

CD 

.2  2 
a| 

„  S 

11 

u  a 

0  a 
0 

a 

0 
a 

00 

si 
a 

£.1 

■0 

0 

t.1 

D 

a 

z; 

a 

Range. 

Range. 

S 

1876. 

« 

a 
s 

0 

0 

JS 
60 

a 

en 
<u 

0 

si 
a 
a 

S 

a 

a; 

(5 

0* 

e 
1 

•0 

> 

ta 
0 
S 

a 

■a 

> 

4) 

en 

.0 
0 

s 

a 

"a 

00 

6X 

a) 

H 
u 

i-l 

.0 
5 

0 
a   . 

«    OD 

a 
0 

June 

July 

August 

29.852 
29.942 
29.976 

29.923 

29.96S 
29.958 
30.011 

29.979 

30.129 

29.988 

30.075 
80.149 
30.197 

29.469 
29.714 
29.744 

.606 
.435 
.453 

71.65 

78. 
77.26 

89 
94 
93 

49 
56 
53 

40 
38 
40 

73.86 

73. 

71.63 

20 
13 
12 

9.35 

3,46 
3.80 

Mean  of  sum'r 

75.64 

65.  as 

52.79 

38.98 

72.83 

74.66 
64.51 
74.44 

45 

13 
9 
6 

16.61 

7.37 
4.40 
1.96 

September 

October 

30.241 
30.483 
30.262 

29.657 
29.395 
29.489 

.584 

1.08") 

.773 

85 
80 
74 

49 

43 
27 
16 

42 
53 

58 

November 

6 

3.6 

Mean  of  fall. . . 

52.53 
19.95 

—12 

61 

71.14 

28 
0 

13.73 
37 

6 

December 

30.536 
30.638 

29.664 

.872 

3.7 

Mean  of  year 

29.113 

1.525 

52.99 

94 

—12 

106. 

69.74 

119 

50.07 

30 

30.2 

Compiled  bj  J.  Stebbins  King,  M.  D., 

Observer  Signal  Service,  U.  S.  Army. 


I50 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


STATEMENT 

Shozving  Iio'lV  many  times  zvind  icas  observed  blo-u;ing  from  the 
eight    cardinal  points  of   the    compass^   during    each     m^onth^ 
frofn  April  7,  iSjSi  ^^  Dec.  ji.,  iSj6 ;  also.,  aspect  of  the  sky. 

Table  No.  2. 


North 

Northeast 

East 

Southeast 

South 

Southwest  . . . 

West 

Northwest  . . . 
Calm 

Clear 

Fair 

Partly  cloudy 
Cloudy  


]f>  18 
12'  7 
14i  5 
13  11 


32 1 32 

18  24 
14  19 
26  18 


22!  14 
15  31 
5 
14 
10 


10 


•Jl 


9  11 

5  13 

3 

5 
28 
26 


19 


16  20 
4 


36 
26 

25  12 
13123, :» 


3  C'^lc 


4  3 
3  2 

2  3 


6 

17|25 
16  22 
18  17 
14  18i24 
4  1  1 


37  28 

7 '26 

17117 

31116 


12'  5 
8:14 


10  4 
18  8 
4 
13 
26  24 
15,21 
8  13 
4  8 
3  1 


26  32 
26  31 
23 '16 


15^14  25 


■I" 


50,2; 


o 
H 


.^ 


150 
188 
113 
193 
400 
343 
226 
284 
91 


617 
458 
3.50 
512 


1988 


1937 


Explanation  of  Tables,  etc. 


Clear  Indicates  no  clouds,  or  not  more  than  one-tenth  cloudy. 

Fair,  two  to  four  tenths,  inclusive. 

Partly  cloudy,  five  to  eight-tenths  of  clouds. 

Cloudy,  nine-tenths  and  upwards. 

Regula's  observations  are  taken  at  6.48  A.  M.,  3.48  and  10.13  P.  M.,  each  day,  Decatur 
mean  time,  which  corresponds  with  Washington,  D.  C,  mean  time  of  7.35  A.  M.,  4.35  and 
11  P.  M.,  that  being  the  hour  at  which  all  observations  are  taken  at  Regula's  Signal  Ser- 
vice Stations,  corrections  being  made  for  local  time  to  correspond  therewith. 

Other  observations  of  the  instruments,  direction  of  the  wind,  etc.,  are  taken  as  may  be 
demanded.  It  will  be  seen,  by  Table  2,  that  1988  observations  of  direction  of  wind  were 
noted,  and  but  1937  of  aspect  of  the  sky  :  the  difference  is  caused  by  observations  taken 
during  the  approach  of  storms,  when  the  wind  has  shifted  often,  while  the  aspect  of  the 
sky  has  remained  unchanged  and  not  mentioned.  In  Table  l,  in  column  mean  of  sea- 
sons, nine  months  and  of  year,  the  mean  of  the  barometer,  thermometer  and  hygrome- 
ter are  given,  while  in  the  other  footings  in  said  colunms  the  range,  difference  and. sums 
are  given. 

The  minus  mark,  thus  — ,  placed  before  figures  pertaining  to  the  ithermometer,  indi- 
cates below  zero 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  15I 

Summary  of  the  Nine  Months  ending  Dec.  31,  1875. 

Highest  observed  thermometer 95,  3.48  P.  M.,  July  16. 

L  owest         "  "  —4,  6.48  A.  M.,  Dec  17 

Difference 99  deg. 

Highest  daily  mean  thermometer S7.2,  July  i6. 

Lowest         "  "  3.25,  Dec.  17. 

Difference 83.95  ^^S- 

Highest  monthly  mean  thermometer.. 77-63,  July. 

Lowest  "  "  39.63,  November. 

Difference 38.00  deg. 

Highest  observed  barometer ....     30.646,  lo  A.  M.,   Nov.  24. 

Lowest         '•  "  29.261,7.35  A.  M.May  i. 

Difference i  .385  inches. 

Highest  daily  mean  barometer 30-5S8,  November  21. 

Lowest         "  "  29.391,  May  7. 

Difference 1.167  inches. 

Highest  monthly  mean  barometer 30.055,  November. 

Lowest         "  "  29.868,  July. 

Difference ...         ,187  inches. 

Last  freeze  of  spring,  May  i6;  ice  one-thirty-second  of  an  inch 
formed.  Last  white  frost,  May  17;  no  ice.  First  frost  and  ice  in 
fall,  September  21;  ice  thickness  of  letter  paper.  First  cold  day  of 
fall,  freezing  during  entire  34  hours,  November  16.  First  snow, 
December  7.  River  frozen  over  for  first  time,  December  17th;  on 
19th  ice  was  four  inches  thick.  All  ice  and  frost  had  disappeared  on 
the  3 1st.  Latter  part  of  December  was  warm  and  pleasant;  on 
the  30th  and  31st  frogs  were  heard  croaking  in  numerous  ponds 
near  the  city;  and  at  adjoining  railroad  stations,  some  farmers  plow- 
ing on  the  30th. 

Heaviest  fall  of  rain  in  34  hours,  on  May  33d,  on  which  day  4.60 
inches  fell  from  3.34  P.  M.,  to  10.10  P.  M.,  of  which  3.0S  inches 
fell  in  31  minutes,  viz:  from  3.34  to  3.55  P.  M. 

No  snow  storms  during  these  nine  months.  Light  snows  fell  on 
eight  days,  during  the  months  of  April  and  December;  as  will  be 
seen  by  reference  to  table  i,  less  than  two  inches  fall. 


152  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Summary  of  the  Year  1876. 

Highest  observed  thermometer 94,  3  P.  M.,  July  19. 

Lowest         "  "  — 12,  648  A.  M.,  Dec.  9. 

Difference  .  . 106  deg. 

Highest  daily  mean  thermometer 86.25,  July  19. 

Lowest       "  "  — 2.66,  Dec.  9. 

Difference 88.91 

Highest  monthly  mean  thermometer  .  .      78      July. 
Lowest  "  •  u  ^9-9i  December. 

Difference 58.1  deg. 

Highest  observed  barometer 30.536,  Dec.  4th. 

Lowest         "  "  29.1 13,  March  16. 

Difference ^-423  inches. 

Highest  daily  mean  barometer 30.446,  Dec.  3. 

Lowest       "  "  29.378,  March  16. 

Difference 1.068  inches. 

Highest  monthly  mean  barometer 30.129,  December. 

Lowest         "  "  29.852,  June. 

Difference .277  inches. 

Last  freeze  of  spring.  May  i ;  thin  ice  formed.  Last  white  frost 
observed  in  city.  May  3d;  no  ice.  May  23d,  a  light  white  frost  was 
reported  fiom  some  low  lands  in  the  country. 

First  white  frost  in  fall,  September  27th;  no  injury  done  to  veg- 
etation. First  killing  frost,  with  thin  ice,  October  7th.  First  ice 
of  any  thickness,  October  15;  1^  inch  thick.  First  cold  day,  freez- 
ing during  same,  November  18.  First  snow,  November  14. 
River  frozen  over  on  the  8th  of  December;  from  that  to  31st  ice 
formed  to  thickness  of  10  inches. 

During  the  winter  of  1874-5,  ground  was  frozen  to  an  average 
depth  of  38  inches;  winter  of  1S75-6,  6  inches;  and  thus  far  in 
winter  of  1876-7,  12  inches. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1 53 


HIGH    WATER. 

It  is  said  said  that  the  greatest  uain-fall  that  has  occurred  in  this 
country  was  in  the  year  1831^.  There  was  no  record  kejDt  of  the 
amount  that  fell  by  any  of  the  methods  of  to-day,  and  all  we  have 
to  judge  by  is  the  high  water  in  the  river  and  creeks.  The  Sanga- 
mon is  said  to  have  been  higher  than  at  the  breaking  up  of  the 
deep  snow  in  the  spring  of  1831,  or  at  any  time  since.  The  rains 
commenced  falling  in  the  early  spring,  and  continued  throughout 
the  early  summer.  There  have  been,  perhaps,  other  seasons  just 
as  wet,  but  the  streams  were  never  so  high  at  any  other  time. 
There  were  a  great  many  hard  rains,  and  a  storm  of  rain,  thvnider 
and  lightning  occurred  in  the  early  part  of  July,  that,  for  severity, 
has  scarcely  ever  been  excelled.  It  extended  throughout  the  west, 
as  far  as  information  extended.  Our  prairies,  then  undrained, 
resembled  an  immense  lake,  and  tish  were  abundant  in  almost 
every  locality.  It  may  not  be  known  to  many,  but  it  is  a  well 
attested  fact,  that  the  large  ponds  upon  our  prairies,  in  early  days, 
contained  fish,  large  enough  for  domestic  purposes,  almost  every 
spring,  and  that,  too,  when  the  ponds  would  annually  dry  up 
entirely.  How  the  presence  of  such  fish  was  to  be  accounted  for 
surpassed  the  comprehension  of  ye  old  settler,  except  that  they  were 
"  rained  down  when  small."  During  this  year  but  little  in  the  way 
of  crops  was  attempted  to  be  raised.  Hogs  were  fattened  in  the 
fall  upon  the  mast,  and  those  that  were  not  killed  for  food  had  to 
subsist  during  the  winter  upon  the  acorns.  With  them  it  was  lit- 
erally "  root  hog  or  die."  Cattle  wintered  upon  buds,  the  trees 
being  cut  down  for  that  purpose.  Eighteen  hundred  and  forty-two 
and  1858  ai"e  also  notable  as  years  of  great  rain-fall.  During  the 
early  history  of  the  county,  when  there  were  no  bridges,  much  diffi- 
culty was  experienced  in  getting  from  place  to  place  in  the  spring 
time,  on  account  of  the  high  waters.  The  people,  however,  were 
nearly  all  expert  swimmers,  and  it  was  seldom  that  life  was  lost 
from  the  high  water.  We  are  sometimes  at  a  loss  to  know  why 
ferries  were  established  and  licensed  on  the  Sangamon;  but  it 
should  be  remembered  the  river  "  was  up  "  a  great  deal  longer  in 
those  days,  when  the  land  was  not  imjDroved,  and  when 
there  were  no  drains  to  carry  the  water  off  rapidly.  The  water 
then  had  to  seek  the  natural  drainage,  and  its  course  was 
retarded  by  many  obstructions.  We  are  disposed  to  believe 
— 20 


154  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

that  the  elements  "  cut  more  capers,"  in  the  shape  of  rleep 
snows,  sudden  changes,  severe  storms,  when  this  whole  w^estern 
country  was  a  wild  waste.  They  say  civilization  is  a  great  leveler ; 
and  perhaps  it  has  had  something  to  do  in  toneing  down  the  ele- 
ments. And  we  had  no  signal  service  bureau  then,  charged  by  the 
government  with  the  duty  of  looking  after  those  matters.  "  Old 
Probabilities"  didn't  then  put  out  his  daily  weather  bulletin  at  the 
corner  of  the  postoffice  to  warn  us  of  the  approaching  "  cold  snap," 
so  that  we  were  then  often  caught  without  any  oil  in  our  lamps,  so 
to  speak. 

CHARACTERISTICS    OF    EARLY    SETTLERS. 

For  true  and  genuine  hospitality,  the  pioneers  of  this  western 
country  were  remarkable.  This,  no  doubt,  is  attributable,  in  part, 
to  inherent  characteristics  of  the  people,  but  largely  so  to  the  pecu- 
liar surroundings  and  circumstances  in  which  they  weix  placed. 
The  sympathetic  emotions  of  man  become  more  and  more  obtuse 
as  he  is  placed  in  situations  of  independence.  Selfishness  is  not 
wholly  a  characteristic  of  the  individual.  Cosmopolitan  ideas  are 
assumed  as  wealth  and  independence  place  a  person  be3'ond  the 
demands  of  succor  and  help  from  others.  The  requirements  of 
want  and  deprivation  are  calculated  to  make  one  feel  kind  and  hos- 
pitable to  all.  Napoleon,  as  an  exile  at  Helena,  was  not  the  austere 
commander  at  Austerlitz  and  Mount  Tabor.  The  haughty  child  of 
fortune  may,  and  often  does,  become,  when  old  age  and  misfortune 
have  overtaken  him  or  her,  the  very  embodiment  of  kindness  and 
universal  friendship.  While  the  wants  and  necessities  of  pioneer 
life  are  few  and  simple,  yet  their  supply  is  none  the  less  exacting. 
Hence,  we  find  the  pioneers  of  Macon  county,  governed  by  the 
same  law,  and  manifesting  the  same  spirit  of  generosity  that  actu- 
ates the  human  breast,  under  similar  circumstances,  everywhere. 
Chapter  after  chapter  of  individual  acts  of  kindness  might  here  be  re- 
lated, of  those  who  took  part  in  the  early  settlement  of  this  county,  if 
we  only  had  the  space  to  devote.  No  doubt  lessons  of  profit  might 
be  learned  therefrom  by  us,  in  this  golden  age  of  steam,  of  im- 
provement, and  civilization.  We  sometimes  laugh  at  what  we 
call  the  simplicity  and  old-fogy  notions  of  our  fathers;  but  what- 
ever we  may  say  on  that  point,  of  their  generosity,  their  devotion 
to  each  other,  of  their  friendship,  of  their  kind  treatment  of  stran- 
gers, as  well  as  acquaintances  and    neighbors,  the  less   we  say,  by 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I55 

way  of  comparison,  the  better.  To  divide  they  were  always 
willing;  and  to  give  all,  in  cases  of  extreme  sympathy,  was  not 
uncommon.  To  charge  a  stranger  for  a  night's  loding  was  an  act 
of  gross  impropriety  not  to  be  tolerated. 

Twenty  miles  was  a  short  distance  to  ride,  over  the  then  bad 
roads,  to  see  a  sick  neighbor.  It  was  never  too  cold  or  wet  to  lend 
assistance  to  the  needy.  If  a  neighbor,  by  sickness  or  other  mis- 
fortune, was  unable  to  plant  his  corn,  sow  or  reap  his  wheat,  they 
all  "turned  in"  and  assisted  or  did  it  for  him.  It  was  never  too  far 
to  go  to  assist  a  "  new  comer  "  to  "  raise  "  his  house,  or  help  rebuild 
one  destroyed  by  fire.  The  tools  of  one  man  were  almost  property 
in  common.  The  refusal  to  lend  almost  any  article  of  personal 
propeity,  was  an  act  of  hostilitv  that  the  whole  neighborhood  re- 
sented. They  did  not  all  drink,  but  among  those  who  did,  a  re- 
fusal to  drink  with  a  friend  was  the  unkindest  cut  of  all;  it  was  an 
act  of  social  ostracism.  Another  peculiarity  of  the  early  pioneers 
was  the  readiness  they  manifested  in  resenting  real  or  imaginary 
wrongs  or  insults.  They  are  said  to  have  been  always  ready  for  a 
fight.  The  court  dockets  show  that  they  were  as  ready  for  a  legal 
contest,  and  the  amounts  involved  seems  to  have  had  but  little 
weight  in  the  institution  of  legal  proceedings.  It  was  the  wrong 
they  sought  to  correct,  and  not  the  amount  involved  that  determined 
whether  they  would  resort  to  litigation  or  not.  Slander  suits  were 
quite  common.  Of  the  four  suits  brought  at  the  first  term  of  the 
Macon  county  circuit  court,  two  were  for  slander;  and  of  the  six 
at  the  next  term,  four  were  for  the  same  thing. 

From  the  results  arrived  at,  in  the  cases  mentioned,  we  presume  the 
suits  were  not  very  meritorious;  yet  it  is  a  well  established  fact 
that  in  those  early  days  the  people  were  very  jealous  in  guarding 
their  reputations  and  that  of  their  families.  Character  was  not  to 
be  assailed  without  just  cause.  Aside  from  the  fact  that  in  sparsely 
settled  communities  every  person  knows  every  other  person's  busi- 
ness, and  is  for  that  reason  perhaps  more  disposed  to  talk,  we  do 
not  believe  the  tongue  of  slander  is  more  energetic  or  more  dis- 
posed to  injure,  under  such  surroundings,  than  in  densely  populated 
districts;  and  probably  not  so  much  so.  The  disposition  to  resent 
insult,  real  or  seeming,  is,  however,  more  marked.  There  was 
another  characteristic  of  the  pioneers  that  it  is  proper  to  mention 
in  this  connection,  and  which  we  still  see  among  the  survivors,  and 


156  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


that  was  the  impHcit  confidence  reposed  in  each  other  in  their 
promises  and  business  relations.  It  is  true  their  contracts  were  few 
and  simple,  and  their  business  transactions  by  no  means  complica- 
ted, yet  there  was  usually  the  most  implicit  confidence  reposed  in 
the  honor  and  integrity  of  those  with  whom  they  dealt.  A  man's 
promise  upon  his  honor  was  sure  to  be  met,  no  matter  what  sacri- 
fices w^ere  required.  His  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond,  if  the  last 
cow^  or  hog  had  to  be  given  up  to  make  it  so.  Promissory  notes 
were  given  sometimes,  but  the  person  required  to  give  one  thought 
it  was  a  slight  reflection  upon  his  integrity.  He  looked  upon  it  as 
a  transaction  tinged  a  little  bit  with  suspicion  and  doubt  in  the  mind 
of  the  payee,  and  he  usuallv  managed  to  "take  up"  that  note  as 
soon  as  possible.  He  regarded  it  as  a  dangerous  instrument,  and  he 
breathed  freer  when  he  had  borrowed  the  money  from  a  neighbor 
and  got  his  name  torn  off  the  note.  Of  course,  there  Avere  excep- 
tions to  these  characteristics,  but  the  general  rule,  nevertheless,  pre- 
vailed. The  old  credit  system,  existing  in  earh^  da3^s  in  this  coun- 
try, grew  out  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  the  public  bv  the  mer- 
chants. The  necessities  of  the  times,  growing  out  of  the  scarcity 
of  money,  the  lack  of  markets  and  the  few  commodities  for  sale  or 
exhange,  of  course,  had  mueh  to  do  with  making  a  credit  system 
the  only  svstem.  The  merchants  bought  on  long  time  and  sold  on 
long  time,  and  usuallv  at  profits  that  would  justifv  it. 

We  should  make  one  remark  further  in  this  connection,  with 
reference  to  the  state  of  society  during  the  early  settlement  of  the 
county.  Notwithstanding  on  muster-days,  holidays  and  Saturdays, 
when  the  people  generally  came  together,  there  was  al\vays  more 
or  less  quarreling  or  fighting,  yet  there  was  none  of  the  reckless 
lawlessness  we  find  in  some  parts  of  the  country.  It  was  seldom 
the  parties  resorted  to  knives  or  pistols;  that  was  gross  cowardice. 
When  two  men  became  enraged,  or  disputed  about  anything,  there 
was  no  resort  to  the  "code  of  honor,"  now,  happily  almost  entirely 
banished  from  the  United  States,  but  it  was  settled  in  the  fisticuff 
style,  and  the  fellow  that  was  beaten  said  so,  and  they  quit,  shook 
hands  and  were  friends  again.  Those  who  were  privileged,  by 
reason  of  opportunity,  to  see  the  fight,  looked  on  as  spectators, 
anxious  to  see  who  was  the  best  man,  and  exerted  themselves,  not 
to  part  the  combatants,  but  to  see  that  they  had  a  "fair  fight."  It 
was  a  cominon  remark  made  by  the  early  settlers  that  such  and  such 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  1 57 

a  man  would  rather  fight  than  eat.  But,  while  they  were  disposed 
to  be  "  on  their  muscle,"  and  fighting  was  quite  common  among 
these  pioneers,  there  was  seldom  anything  more  serious  resulting 
than  a  black  eye  or  a  swollen  nose,  or  a  few  bruises  that  lasted  but 
a  few  days.  The  first  murder  that  ever  occun"ed  in  the  county  was 
that  of  Wesley  Bohrer,  who  was  murdered  by  Samuel  Huffman, 
in  1846,  seventeen  years  after  the  organization  of  the  county.  There 
was  but  little  of  the  outlawry  and  bloodshed  that  has  disgraced 
other  portions  of  the  country  in  the  early  days,  or  later  days,  for 
that  matter.  It  is  said  that  but  one  challenge  for  a  duel  was  ever 
given  and  accepted,  and  that  the  result  of  that  was  not  very  san- 
guinary, more  laughable  in  fact  than  bloody. 

"  HARD  TRIALS  AND  TRIBULATIONS." 

None  but  those  who  have  experienced  them  can  duly  appreciate 
the  difficulties  to  be  surmounted,  the  hardships  to  be  met  and  en- 
dured, the  deprivations  and  wants  experienced  that  are  incident  to 
pioneer  life.  We  talk  of  the  depressions  in  trade;  we  bemoan  the 
scarcity  of  a  circulating  medium;  w^e  talk  of  the  absolute  stagna- 
tion of  the  markets  for  this  produce  or  that;  we  become  enraged 
at  the  excessive  charges  for  freights  and  transportation;  we  talk  of 
poverty  and  starvation  staring  us  in  the  face;  we  hear  political  as- 
pirants proclaiming  from  the  rostrums  (the  stumps  of  pioneer  life) 
the  absolute  necessity  of  the  naked,  starving,  downtrodden  oppres- 
sed people  arising  in  their  might  and  throwing  off  the  yoke  of  op- 
pression, or  hurling  from  power  this  administration  or  that,  which 
they  insist  is  dragging  the  people  down  to  poverty  and  ruin.  There 
yet  live  in  this  county  men  who  not  only  have  seen  trade  depressed, 
but  absolutely  no  trade;  have  seen  money  so  scarce  that  letters 
from  friends  had  to  remain  in  the  post  office  for  days  and  weeks  for 
want  of  money  to  pay  the  postage;  who  have  hauled  their  wheat 
to  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  Springfield,  in  wagons  drawn  by  oxen, 
over  roads  termed  highways  that  did  not  deserve  the  name  of  cart- 
ways, and  when  they  reached  their  destination  could  get  but 
little  more  than  half  enough  for  a  bushel  of  wheat  to  buy  a  yard 
of  calico;  who  have  been  compelled  to  live  for  weeks  upon  hom- 
ney,  and  if  bread  at  all  it  was  bread  made  from  corn  ground  in 
hand  mills  or  pounded  up  with  mortars;  whose  children  have  been 
destitute  of  shoes  during  the  entire  winter;  whose  families  had  no 


1^8  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

clothing  except  what  was  carded,  spun,  wove   and  made   into  gar- 
ments by  their  ow^n  hands;  schools,  they  had  none;  churches,  they 
had  none;  afflicted   with     sickness    incident  to   all   new  countries, 
sometimes    the  whole    family  at    once;  luxuries    of  life,   they    had 
none;  conveniences  of  modern  life,  they  had    none;  the  auxilliariesj 
improvements,  inventions  and  labor-saving  machinery  of  to-day  they 
had  none ;  and  what  they  possessed  was  obtained  by  the   hardest  of 
labor,  and   the  sweat  of  individual  exertions;  yet  they  bore  these 
things  without  murmuring,  hoping   for   better   times  to  come,  and 
often  too,  with  but  little  prospect  of  realization.     These  were  times 
that  tried  mens'  souls.     We   often    hear   it   remarked  by  these  old 
settlers  and  pioneers  that  it  will  do  for  the  young  men  to  go  west  to 
the  new  countries  and  help  build  them  up,  but  for  them  there  is  no 
anxiety  to  try  the  vicissitudes  incident  to  the  early  settlement  again. 
They  have  been   there.     To  them   there  is   no   novelty  about  the 
thing  enticing  enough  to  induce  them  to  leave  a  home  of  comfort. 
We  hear  people   talk   about  the   old    fogy   ideas   and  fogy  ways, 
and  want  of  energy  of  the  old   men  who  have   gone   through  the 
experiences  of  pioneer  life.  .  Sometimes,  perhaps,  such  remarks  are 
just,  but,  considering  the   experiences,   education  and  whole  life  of 
such  men,  such  remarks   are  just  as  well   unsaid.     They  have  had 
their   trials,  misfortunes,  hardships   and   adventures,  aud   shall   we, 
now  as  they  are  passing  far  down  the  western  declivity  of  life,  and 
many  of  them  gone,  point  at  them  the  finger  of  derision  and  laugh 
and  sneer  at   the    simplicity   of  their  ways?     Let   us  rather  sheer 
them  up,  revere  and  respect  them,  for  beneath  those   rough   exteri- 
ors beat  hearts  as  noble  as  ever  throbbed  the  human  breast.     Sena- 
tor Oglesby,  in  his  fourth   of  July  address  of  1876,  surrounded  by 
the  few  remaining  pioneers,  paid  them   a   most  glowing  tribute  of 
respect.     He  said   that   we  of   this   generation   could    never  duly 
appreciate  the  great  sacrifices  of  those  people.  They  had  toiled  on  and 
on  through  adversity  and  untold  trials,  that  we  their  distant  and  re- 
mote successors  might  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  sacrifices.    He  said  it 
was  a  serious  question  of  the  hour,  and  one  that  addressed  itself  to 
each  of  us,  whether  or  not  we  are  not  so  swallowed  up  in  materialism, 
so  wrapped  up  in  personal  gain  and  the  acquisition  of  filthy  lucre,  as 
to  lose  sight  of  the  sturdy  women  and    men  who  laid    the   founda- 
tions of  the  republic  and  placed  in  the  solid  earth  the  corner  stones 
upon  which  had  been  reared   the  fabrics  of  our  material  and   politi- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I59 

cal  prosperity.  He  made  further  prediction,  which,  he  said,  had 
haunted  him  tor  years,  as  he  had  contemplated  the  condition  and 
tendencies  of  our  affairs,  which  was  this:  that  when  we  as  a  peo- 
ple in  the  vain  pursuits  of  life,  struggling  for  wealth,  distinction  and 
fame,  allowed  the  love  of  the  past  to  die  out  in  our  hearts,  then  the 
republic  would  have  taken  its  first  downward  step. 

As  it  is  in  our  political  affairs  and  the  enjoyment  of  our  civil  and 
religious  liberties,  so  it  is  with  our  material  comforts.  We  are 
blessed  with  a  rich  soil,  splendid  harvests,  medium  climate  and 
many  other  things  that  make  us  a  contented,  prosperous  and  happy 
people;  but  we  owe  much  to  those  who  opened  up  these  aven- 
ues that  have  led  to  our  present  condition  and  happy  sur- 
roundings. Unremitting  toil  and  labor  have  driven  off"  the  sickly 
miasmas  that  brooded  over  our  swampy  prairies.  Energy  and  per- 
severence  have  peopled  every  section  of  our  wild  lands,  and 
changed  them  from  wastes  and  deserts  to  gardens  of  beauty  and 
profit.  Where  but  a  few  years  ago  the  howling  wolves  made  the 
night  hideous  with  their  wild  shrieks,  now  is  heard  only  the  low- 
ing and  bleating  of  domestic  animals.  But  fifty  years  ago  the  wild 
whoop  of  the  Indian  was  heard  where  now  is  heard  the  engine  and 
rumbling  trains  of  cars,  bearing  away  to  the  east  and  to  the  old 
world  the  products  of  our  labor  and  soil.  Then  the  savage  built 
his  rude  hut  on  the  spot  where  rises  the  dwellings  and  school-houses 
and  church  spires  of  civilized  life.  Transformation  indeed!  And 
all  done  not  through  the  chimerical  process  of  Kubla  Kahn,  but 
the  incessant  toil  and  aggregated  labor  of  thousands  of  tired  hands 
and  brave  hearts,  and  the  impulses  of  such  as  make  any  country 
great.  No,  we  will  not  forget  what  we  owe  to  the  pioneers  of  our 
country.  They  had  their  faults,  but  who  does  not?  If  charity  be 
an  attribute  of  the  human  heart,  let  us  throw  around  them  that 
mantle  as  one  by  one  they  depart.  Let  us  drop  a  sympathetic 
tear  over  their  last  resting  places  as  they  are  gathered,  we  hope,  to 
a  better  land,  where  the  rude  blasts  of  winter  do  not  penetrate  their 
abodes,  and  where  storms  and  winds  and  sickness  and  fatigue  are 
tniknown. 

What  will  another  half  century  accomplish?  These  old  men 
who  are  yet  lingering  among  us  as  connecting  links  of  the  past 
with  the  present,  what  do  they  think  as  with  their  dim  eyes  they 
view  the  scenes  that  surround  them?     They  have  seen  the  old  and 


l6o  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

new  worlds  connected  with  cords  that  pulsate  with  the  life  of  in- 
dustry and  progress.  They  have  seen  the  oceans  bound  together 
with  metalic  bonds,  and  the  whole  country  traversed  with  high- 
ways of  commerce.  They  have  seen  the  nation  rise  in  majesty  and 
become  an  influence  felt  and  respected  throughout  thew^orld.  They 
have  seen  the  spirit  of  liberty  grow  up  and  assert  itself  to  its  pres- 
ent commanding  influence.  Thev  have  seen  the  initiation  of  that 
principal  of  universal  brotherhood  which  dictates  the  settlement  of 
international  disputes  by  arbitration,  rather  than  a  resort  to  war. 
They  may  yet  see  the  same  spirit  of  equity  and  fairness  assert  itself 
in  the  adjustment  of  our  own  domestic  affairs.  They  may  live  to 
see  the  machinery  of  government  so  adjusted  as  that  no  jars  and 
thunderings  of  civil  war  will  be  felt  and  heard  upon  the  result 
of  presidential  contests.  They  have  seen  the  religious  intoleration 
that  existed  to  some  extent  in  the  early  history  of  the  country  al- 
most entirely  obliterated,  so  that  all  men  everywhere  worship  ac- 
cording to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consience,  as  it  was  designed 
they  should.  They  have  seen  what  we  are  pleased  to  term  the 
civilization  of  the  nineteenth  century  permeating  every  department 
of  human  experience,  and  asserting  its  influence  in  all  directions  for 
the  general  good  of  mankind.  They  have  seen  complete  revolu- 
tions in  almost  every  branch  of  industry.  They  have  seen  the 
steamboat  and  railroad  supplant  the  old-time  methods  of  travel. 
They  have  seen  the  reaper  and  mower  and  corn-planter  succeed 
the  sickle,  scythe  and  hoe.  They  have  seen  their  households  in- 
vaded by  Howe  and  Wheeler  &  Wilson  and  Singer,  and  all  that 
long  list  of  labor  and  time  saving  machinery  that  have  driven 
away  the  stiich,  stitch,  stitch,  so  truthfully  portrayed  by  Hood. 
They  view  the  surroundings  with  the  same  strange,  wondering  as- 
tonishment as  did  Rip  VanWinkle  on  his  return  from  his  long  sleep 
in  the  mountains.  Again  we  ask,  what  will  the  next  half  century 
accomplish?  With  the  advantages  that  surround  us,  what  is  ex- 
pected of  us?  With  the  capital  we  have,  what  shall  be  expected 
as  our  increase?  The  late  Senator  Harris  frequently  remarked  to 
his  students  of  the  grave  responsibilities  resting  upon  them  with 
the  advantages  they  posssessed.  He  said,  though  then  near  70 
years  of  age,  he  could  scarcely  realize  that  he  was  not  a  young  man, 
the  opportunities  the  times  brought  were  so  enticing,  so  fraught 
with  interest  to  every  one  who  sought  to  lead   a  life   of  usefulness. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  l6l 


With  tears  in  his  eyes  he  dismissed  his  students  with  the  motto  for 
each,  that: — 

"'Tis  infamy  to  die  and  not  be  missed." 
None  of  us  can  do  much  of  ourselves,  hut  what  has  been  done  in 
the  last  thirty,  forty  or  fifty  years  has  been  by  the  accumulated  la- 
bor of  all  that  have  come  and  gone  before  us.  What  we  accom- 
plish will  be  in  the  same  way,  and  with  doubts  and  anxious  solici- 
tude we  leave  it  for  the  futui'e  historian  to  record. 


A    RETROSPECT. 

BY    A.   J.    WALLACE. 

Fair  Genius  of  the  West,  whose  magic  wand 
Spreads  fadeless  beauty  o'er  this  western  land — 
Where  nature  o'er  the  rude  and  savage  wild 
Reigned,  ere  the  city  or  the  farm-house  smiled; 
Or  yet  was  waked  the  echoes  of  the  horn. 
Or  dreams  of  wealth  in  these  wide  wastes  were  born, 
Bid  thou  the  light  of  recollection  flow 
Back  o'er  the  scenes  of  fifty  years  ago. 

The  savage,  then,  with  never  yielding  will 
Pursues  the  frightened  deer  with  sleuth-hound  skill 
And  tireless  feet,  till,  with  unerring  aim. 
The  fateful  arrow  slays  the  panting  game; 
Or  shadows,  with  a  panther's  step,  his  foe — 
The  hated  pale-face — cause  of  all  his  woe; 
Turns  deaf  his  ear  at  each  imploring  cry, 
And  shouts  with  joy  to  see  his  victim  die ; 
Then,  with  the  nightfall  seeks  his  dusky  mates, 
And  all  his  triumphs  of  the  day  relates; 
Or,  urged  by  soft  infatuations  pent, 
The  same  which  heav'n  to  all  mankind  has  sent, 
He  quits  the  crown,  to  gentle  conquest  moves, 
And  w-orships  at  the  feet  of  her  he  loves. 

Hard  by  the  borders  of  yon  sheltering  wood 
We  pass  the  spot  where  once  a  cabin  stood; 
But  see  no  sign — save  that  the  grain-stalk  spears 

21 


l63  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

More  rankly  o'er  the  garnered  mould  of  years. 

Gone,  with  the  builder  gone — and  yet  how  dear 

The  rough-hewn  cottage  of  the  pioneer! 

Its  doors  unshut,  and  generous  all  its  laws. 

Broad  as  the  ingle-place  its  welcome  was. 

Warm  as  the  hearthstone,  ever  cleanly  swept. 

So  warm  the  heart  that  with  each  sufferer  wept. 

Bright  as  the  flame  that  up  the  chimney  flew. 

So  bright  the  joy  that  round  the  fireside  grew; 

And  when  the  night  with  silent  step  advanced 

On  slumb'rous  couch  the  household  sank  entranced; 

And  dreams  as  blissful  filled  each  sleeper's  head 

As  e're  filled  prince's  in  his  downy  bed. 

Rough  were  the  men  who  ploughed  the  virgin  lea. 

Swept  by  the  billows  of  a  grassy  sea. 

Rewarded  was  their  toil;  the  golden  grain 

Waved  answering  undulations  o'er  the  plain. 

Uncouth  their  manners,  cordial  as  the  day, 

No  unfed  beggar  toiled  his  weary  way. 

The  traveler  unknown,  belated,  lost. 

E'er  found  a  welcome  and  a  kindly  host. 

These  gallant  men  with  ax  and  plough  and  spade, 
The  deep  foundations  of  the  nation  laid ; 
And  built  so  well  that  ages  hence  will  see 
An  ever-widening  home  for  all  the  free. 
The  patriots  ever  as  the  poet's  heart 
Hoards  up  the  memories  as  the  years  depart ; 
Leaps  with  the  joy  and  feels  the  battle  thrill 
That  Putnam  felt  at  glorious  Bunker  Hill.     , 
The  rarest  gems  in  nature's  rich  array 
Are  valued  ever  by  the  price  we  pay ; 
Forgot  the  cost,  and  we  forget  the  trace 
That  lends  the  magic  to  the  diamond's  face; — 
So  when  the  nation,  all  ungrateful  grows, 
Forgets  the  past,  its  struggles,  and  its  woes, 
In  swift  retreat  'twill  take,  with  hurried  breath, 
Its  first  step  downward  to  the  shoi^es  of  death. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  163 

If  evil  with  unrighteous  rule  prevails, 

'Tis  not  the  heritage  the  past  entails. 

The  wanton  child  of  Luxury  and  Lust, 

Unknown  to  shame  or  virtuous  distrust, 

Runs  riot  through  the  heart's  enchanted  ground, 

And  leaps  its  walled  defenses  at  a  bound. 

The  "fast"  young  man,  less  noble  than  his  sire, 

A  slave  to  wealth  and  to  untamed  desire. 

In  youth  decayed,  in  trembling  age  unblessed, 

Sinks  unregretted  to  his  solemn  i^est. 

See  Fashion  all-adored,  though  lovely  less 
Than  maiden  nature  in  her  homespun  dress. 
What  is  the  flame  her  tinseled  robes  inspire 
To  fervid  nature's  fierce  magnetic  fire? 
See  wild  Ambition,  on  his  fiery  car 
(Behind  him  famine,  pestilence  and  war,) 
Lift  high  the  flaming  truncheon  in  his  hand. 
And  to  destruction  doom  a  smiling  land. 
Thus  great  the  evil,  not  without  some  good; 
Or  else  the  prospect  is  a  blackening  flood. 

Sure,  Science  in  her  study  brooding  brings 
Some  compensation  on  the  agile  wings 
Of  Enterprise,  that  mobile  as  the  wind. 
Seeks  every  good  that  blesses  human  kind; 
And  Art  enraptured,  beautiful  and  true. 
Whose  magic  pencil  steals  the  sunset  hue. 
Whose  chisel  stroke  the  heroe's  living  mold. 
Doth  fix  forever  in  the  marble  cold, 
Smooths  down  unpolished  nature  to  the  line, 
And  in  designing  proves  itself  divine. 

Then,  reigned  a  rude  and  simple  rustic  grace. 

And,  now.  Refinement  sits  with  smiling  face, 

A  hundred  comforts  fill  our  daily  store 

To  one  that  blessed  the  pioneer  of  yore. 

His  life  is  past,  his  labor  all  is  done. 

And  we  now  reap  the  harvest  that  he  won. 


164  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


NAVIGATION  UNDER  DIFFICULTIES. 

It  may  not  be  known  to  many  of  our  present  residents  that  the 
Sangamon  has  ever  been  navigated.  Such  is  the  fact,  however. 
A  small  sized  steamboat  is  said  to  have  come  up  as  far  as  Spring- 
field at  one  time,  but  experienced  considerable  difficulty  in  turning 
around,  and  the  cajDtain  probably  abandoned  further  efforts  in  that 
direction  in  disgust.  The  legislature  at  one  time  declared  the  San- 
gamon navigable,  but  the  law  did  not  make  it  so  in  fact  and  soon 
became  a  "dead  letter."  In  1845  the  navigation  fever  struck  this 
vicinity,  and  a  flat-boat  was  built  and  went  down  the  river,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Wm.  Rea.  In  1846  five  more  boats  were  built 
destined  for  New  Orleans,  and  were  loaded  with  hogs  and  corn. 
They  got  as  far  as  Long  Point  (a  short  distance  south  of  Niantic) 
that  year,  and  landed  for  the  winter,  awaiting  high  water  in  the 
spring  of  1847.  That  spring  three  of  the  bbats  were  fitted  up  and 
the  loads  of  the  other  two  transferred  to  them,  and  another  attempt 
made  to  get  to  their  destination,  with  more  success.  Two  were 
loaded  with  hogs  and  one  with  corn.  At  Beardstown,  the  river 
becoming  deeper  and  the  loads  being  too  light,  a  large  quantity  of 
bran  was  bought  and  taken  on  board,  partly,  perhaps,  as  ballast  and 
partly  as  an  article  of  merchandise.  Two  of  the  boats  went  through 
to  New  Orleans,  and  one  stopped  at  Natchez.  The  captains  of 
these  several  vessels  were  Uncle  John  Hanks,  J.  G.  Braden  and 
Hosea  Armstrong.  The  latter  became  tired  of  seafaring  at  Beards- 
town  and  transferred  his  command  to  Moses  Spencer.  The  firm 
engaged  in  this  laudable  enterprise  was  composed  of  the  following 
gentlemen:  Hosea  Armstrong,  J.  J.  Peddecord  and  Henry  Prather. 
We  have  tried  to  ascertain  the  profits  derived  from  these  ship- 
ments, but  have  only  been  able  to  ascertain  that  they  were  not  very 
large.  The  losses,  however,  were  not  very  large,  for  the  prices 
paid  for  the  corn  was  not  to  exceed  eight  cents  per  bushel,  and  the 
hogs  were  purchased  fw  about  one  dollar  per  head.  The  people 
along  the  river  were  very  much  interested  in  the  success  of  this 
flat-boat  experiment.  "Uncle  Henry  Prather,"  in  the  autumns  of 
184=5  and  1846,  went  along  down  the  river  and  made  speeches, 
urging  the  necessity  of  the  people  turning  out  and  assisting  in  remov- 
ing the  obstructions  in  the  river.  They  did  so,  many  of  them 
working  for  days  in  cutting  out  the  logs  and  drifts  that  had  accu- 
mulated so  that  during  the  high  water  of  the  spring  following  the 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  165 


obstructions  would  float  out  in  advance  of  the  arrival  of  the  boats^ 
When  the  boats  were  passing,  crowds  of  people  would  be  found 
congregated  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  to  observe  the  passing  flo- 
tilla of  commerce,  so  to  speak.  *pie  people  even  followed  the  boats 
in  some  instances  for  miles,  to  see  that  no  harm  should  overtake  the 
infant  enterprise,  and  to  assist  in  getting  the  boats  over  the  logs  and 
mill-dams  that  impeded  their  progress.  After  this  effort,  all  fur- 
ther attempts  at  navigating  the  Sangamon  ceased. 

DEER    HUNTINGS. 

It  was  also  customary  to  have  neighborhood  huntings,  when  all 
the  men,  young  and  old,  would  meet  together  at  some  appointed 
place  with  their  hounds,  generally  on  Saturday  afternoon,  and  en- 
gage in  hunting.  The  locality  was  selected,  and  the  participants 
placed  in  their  positions,  which  were  called  "stands,;"  then  the 
"  driver  "  with  the  hounds  would  go  out  to- "start  up"  the  deer, 
which,  when  started,  would  pass  the  stands  where  it  was  generally 
shot,  for  there  were  but  few  of  the  early  settlers  but  were  "  good 
shots,"  and  rarely  failed  to  bring  down  their  game.  It  should  be 
mentioned  in  this  connection  that  deer  have  their  regular  runs  or 
courses  they  follow,  and  it  was  necessary  in  these  hunts  to  be  fam- 
iliar with  them,  in  order  to  secure  positions  or  stands  the  game 
would  pass. 

Wolf  hunts  and  fox  hunts  were  also  quite  common.  In  the  early 
settlement  of  the  county  wolves  were  very  common,  especially 
prairie  wolves.  They  could  be  heard  at  night  in  droves,  barking 
like  so  many  dogs.  They  were  very  destructive  of  sheep,  and  no 
farmer  ever  dared  leave  his  out  of  the  "  sheep  house  "  over  night, 
and  they  were  often  attacked  in  day  time  in  close  proximity  to  the 
dwelling.  As  a  means  of  exterminating  these  ravenous  creatures, 
a  reward  of  one  dollar  was  provided  for  by  an  act  of  the  legislature 
in  1837,  for  each  wolf  scalp  exhibited  to  the  clerk  of  the  county 
court.  The  black  wolves,  which  wei-e  very  large,  when  hungry, 
have  ben  known  to  attack  persons,  but  they  were  never  plentiful 
in  this  county.  Wolf  "  chases "  were  among  the  many  amuse- 
ments of  the  early  inhabitants,  and  were  a  source  of  protection  as 
well.  Wolves  ordinarily  run  very  fast,  and  their  endurance  was 
wonderful,  the  chase  often  being  given  up  as  fruitless  when  hounds 
and  horses  had  been  completely  exhausted.  They,  even  when 
taken  very  young,  could  not  be  tamed. 


l66  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

The  red  fox  and  gray  fox  were  also  to  be  found  in  this  county, 
though  they  wei'e  not  as  plentiful  as  in  other  localities.  The  fox 
chase,  owing  to  the  peculiarities  of  this  animal,  was  always  a  source 
of  great  amusement,  not  only  here,  but  in  all  countries.  They 
were  often  caught  and  confined  for  days,  until  those  who  desired  to 
take  part  wei^e  ready  for  the  chase,  when  the  excitement  of  the 
chase  was  next  to  that  of  "  mustering  day." 

Shooting  matches  were  also  very  common  to  the  early  settlers, 
and  especially  so  about  the  holdays.  Almost  every  man  was  an  ex- 
pert in  the  use  of  "  fire-arms,"  especially  the  rifle.  Pioneer  life  is 
productive  of  good  marksmen. 

COURT   DAYS. 

Among  the  notable  days  in  the  early  history  of  the  county,  was 
court  day.  The  convening  of  court  was  one  of  the  events  of  the 
year.  On  that  day  nearly  everybody  went  to  town.  If  he  hap- 
pened not  to  be  on  one  of  the  juries,  or  a  witness,  or  a  suitor,  he 
felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  "go  to  court"  to  see  and  hear  what  was 
going  on.  It  answered  the  place  of  the  shows  and  circuses  of  a 
later  day,  and  perhaps  was  as  instructive  if  not  as  entertaining. 
When  court  was  over  in  the  evening,  the  judge,  lawyers  and  citi- 
zens congregated  in  the  bar  rooms  of  the  taverns,  where  stories 
were  told,  and  the  evenings  spent  in  conversation,  regarded  by  the 
"  old  inhabitants  as  very  entertaining.  No  doubt  but  they  were, 
for  Lincoln  and  Douglas  and  Baker  and  McDougal  and  Stuart  and 
Emerson  and  Lockwood  and  Treat  and  Logan  and  Davis,  and 
others  of  world-wide  reputation,  were  there  and  engaged  therein. 
It  is  said  that  the  immense  fund  of  anecdotes  possessed  by  the  late 
President  Lincoln  was  largely  derived  from  collections  made  "while 
on  the  circuit." 

HOUSE    RAISINGS. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  the  county,  the  dwellings  were  mostly 
built  of  logs,  and  those  who  built  houses  of  such  proportions  as  not 
to  be  called  "  cabins  "  were  compelled  to  give  what  was  called  a 
"  house  raising,"  to  which  all  the  inhabitants  far  and  near  were  in- 
vited to  assist.  The  logs  were  prepared,  sometimes  hewed  and 
sometimes  not,  and  brought  to  the  place  where  the  house  was  to  be 
erected,  then  when  the  people  had  all  gathered  in,  those  who  were 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  167 

the  more  dexterous  in  the  use  of  the  axe  were  selected  to  "  carry  up 
the  corners,"  /.  e.  notching  the  logs  so  they  would  fit  the  one  upon 
the  other,  and  the  others  would  divide  off  in  pairs  of  correspond- 
ing strength,  and  would  carry  the  logs  and  place  them  in  position  as 
the  building  progressed.  At  the  raising  of  a  barn  on  the  farm  of 
the  author's  father,  and  which  is  now  the  oldest  barn  standing  in 
the  county  (erected  in  1S29),  people  came  the  distance  of  20  miles 
to  assist  in  its  "  raising."  At  these  gatherings  in  the  early  days,  it 
was  considered  improper,  in  fact  an  act  highly  reprehensible,  not  to 
have  "  liquor,"  as  it  was  then  called,  to  drink.  And  it  may  also  be 
noted  that  while  almost  every  one  drank,  yet,  it  was  seldom  that 
intoxication  was  to  be  seen.  Log-rollings  and  rail-maulings  were 
also  common  in  those  days. 

THE  MAILS. 

For  a  good  many  years  after  the  organization  of  the  county  the 
mails  were  not  of  great  dimensions.  The  arrival  of  the  mail  car- 
rier was  not  a  very  important  event,  excepting  for  a  few  weeks 
after  election.  The  news,  which  was  generally  by  letter,  was  not 
fresh  and  racy  when  received,  as  it  is  to-day.  It  was  more  ex- 
pensive, however,  for  the  postage  on  a  letter  cost  25  cents,  and  it 
was  not  always  that  the  recipient  could  raise  the  necessary  funds  to 
liquidate  the  government  dues.  The  law  was  that  the  postage 
might  be  paid  at  either  end  of  the  route,  and  upon  the  anti-biblical 
doctrine  that  it  is  more  pleasant  to  receive  than  to  give,  the  person 
receiving  the  letter  as  a  usual  thing  was  compelled  to  pay  the  car- 
riage. Letters  were  often  weeks  and  even  months  in  arriving  at 
their  destination.  The  «  fast  mails  "  of  "  Old  Father  Taft,"  though 
not  yet  an  assured  success  are  of  quite  late  invention.  The  mails 
were  carried  on  horseback,  usually  in  a  pair  of  saddle  bags  more 
frequently  unlocked  than  locked.  The  wolves  sometimes  chased 
the  mail  carrier,  who  was  often  but  a  lad,  so  that  at  times  the  mail 
arrived  "  ahead  of  time,"  which  is  about  the  only  instance  of  at- 
tempts at  fast  mail  carrying  of  early  days.  Sometimes  the  mail 
carrier  got  the  ague  enroute,  or  his  horse  got  sick,  or  the  rain  or 
snow  stopped  him,  and  then  the  mail  would  be  "behind  time"  for 
a  few  hours  or  a  few  days  perhaps.  Then  instead  of  the  mails 
coming  once  or  twice  a  day  and  from  all  directions,  they  came  once 
a  week  and  from   Shelbyville  only.     That  was  the  point   of  dis- 


l68  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


tribution  for  us.  Afterwards  and  before  the  era  of  railroads,  the 
mails  were  carried  by  the  stage  lines,  some  of  which  ran  east  and 
west  and  some  north  and  south.  This  was  an  improvement,  for 
the  mails  were  then  more  frequent.  We  insert  the  following  no- 
tice of  arrivals  and  departures  of  mails  in  1851 : 

ARRIVALS  AND  DEPARTURES  OF  THE   MAILS. 

Arrives   from    Springfield,  Mondays,  Wednesdays   and    Fridays, 
at  8  o'clock  p.  M. 

From  Covington,   Indiana,  Wednesdays,  Fridays   and   .Simdays, 
at  1  o'clock  p.  M. 

From    Bloomington,  Fridays,   at    12    o'clock   M.'£  Returns^same 
day  at  i  o'clock  p.  m. 

From    Charleston,   Thursday,    12    o'clock    M.     Returning    same 
day  at  i  o'clock  p.  m. 

From  Ewington,  Saturdays,  6  o'clock  p.  m.      Returns  Wendes- 
days,  at  6  o'clock  A.  m. 

From    Paris,  Thursdays,  at  6  o'clock   p,  m.     Returns   Fridays, 
at  6  o'clock  A.  M. 

From    Edwardsville,  Wednesdays,  at  6  o'clock    i*.  m.      Returns 
next  day  at  six  o'clock  A.  M. 
Decatur,  July,  1851. 

P.  BUTLER,  P.  M. 

ARRIVAL  AND  DEPARTURE  OF  MAILS   IN    1876. 

Post  Office  Hold's. 

Office  open  at  7  a.  m.;  closes  at  8  p.  m. 
Sundays  from  9  to  10  A.  m. 

Money  Order  and   Registering   office  open  from  7.30  A.  m.  to  7 
p.  m. 

Mails  Close. 

For  Terre  Haute  on  111.  M.  R.  R 9-40  A-  ^^• 

West  and  St.  Louis,  on  T.,  W.  and  W 10.40  A.  m. 

East  and  Chicago,  on  T.,  W.  and  W 1 1.30  a.  m. 

East,  on  Ind.,  D.  and  S.  R.  R i.oo  p.  m. 

Peoria,  on  111.  M.  R.  R i  .00  p.  m. 

Monticello  and  Champaign,  on   I.,  B.  and  W 1.00  p.  m. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1 69 

From  Pekin  and  Peoria,  on  T.,  W.  and  W.  R.  R 2.30  p.  m. 

"     Chicago  and  St.  Louis 8.00  p.  m. 

"     Lafayette  and  East 8.00  p.  m. 

"     North,  on  111.  Cent.  R.  R 8.00  v.  m. 

Mails  Arrive. 

From  South  and   St.  Louis 5.45  a.  m. 

Lafayette,  on   T.,  W.  and  W 5.45  A.  m. 

Peoria,  on  L  M.  R.  R 5.45  a.  m. 

"     Pekin  and  Peoria,  on  T.,  W.  and  \V.  and  111.  M. 

R.  R.,    10.30  A.  M. 

"     East 1 1,20  A.  M. 

"     Monticello  and  Champaign,  on  I.,  B.  and  W  .  .  .  .  11.20  a.  m. 

"•    East,  on  Ind.,  D.  and  S.  R.  R 1 1.20  a.  m. 

"     West  and  St.  Louis,  on  T.,  W.  and  W 12.20  p.  m. 

"     East,  on  111.  Mid.  R.  R 1.30  p.  M. 

North  on  Illinois  Central 5,45  p.  m. 

R.  P.  LYTLE,  T'.  M. 
Decatur,  III.,  May  7,  i8j6. 

THE  STAGES. 

But  few  now  here  remember  those  old  fashioned  stages  we  used 
to  have,  that  ran  between  Terre  Haute  and  Springfield,  Shelby- 
ville  and  Bloomington.  The  arrival  of  the  stage  with  its  passen- 
gers and  mails  was  a  more  important  event  than  the  arrival  of  the 
mail  carrier.  The  stage  stand  in  our  villages,  which  was  usually 
the  tavern,  was  a  place  of  very  considerable  local  interest.  The 
stage  driver  was  usually  considered  as  a  little  larger  man  and  entitled 
to  a  few  more  privileges  than  ordinary  mortals.  Albeit  he  was 
a  man  of  functionary  privileges,  and  you  were  required  by  law  to 
give  the  entire  road  to  him  as  he  passed. 

.  The  passing  of  his  stage  was  a  matter  of  as  much  interest  as  the 
passing  of  a  new  train  of  cars.  He  had  a  peculiar  swing  and  crack 
of  his  whip  that  the  little  boys  would  strive  to  attain.  The  stage 
was  a  peculiar  piece  of  mechanism  that  rocked  prodigiously,  as  if 
to  keep  the  passengers  awake.  It  was  never  full,  for  in  staging  it 
was  a  proverbial  saying  that  there  was  always  room  for  one  more. 
It  had  a  "boot"  fastened  on  behind  for  the  storage  of  the  luggage  and 
mails,  that  was  almost  as  capacious  as  the  stage  itself.  These  stages 
— 22 


l^O  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


are  still  seen  in  some  of  our  western  states  and  territories,  and  as  in 
our  pre-railroad  times  are  yet  carrying  the  mails.  With  us,  how- 
ever, they  are  of  the  past — gone  west,  like  Greely's  young  man,  or 
the  star  of  empire,  as  it  were.  But  we  are  not  to  forget  them. 
They  were  of  use  and  importance  in  their  day  and  generation,  and 
they  were  of  dignity  as  well,  for  Clay,  as  Senator,  and  Jackson,  as 
President,  rode  to  Washington  in  them.  They  were  not  remark- 
able for  ease  and  comfort  and  not  to  be  compared  to  the  palace  cars 
of  to-day,  but  were  endurable  nevertheless,  for  some  of  our  oldest 
citizens  came  to  the  country  in  them,  making  an  uninterrupted 
journey  of  fourteen  days  and  nights.  In  this  day  a  trip  can  be 
made  across  the  continent  and  back  in  the  same  length  of  time  and 
with  immeasurably  less  fatigue. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I^l 


CHAPTER     VI 


THE    CHURCHES,    Etc. 


I  say  the  pulpit  (in  the  sober  use 
Of  its  legitimate  peculiar  powers) 

Must  stand  acknowledged  while  the  world  shall  stand 
The  most  important  and  effectual  guard, 
Support  and  ornament  of  virtue's  cause. 

It  would  be  idle  to  speculate  as  to  which  of  the  various  denomi- 
nations has  done  most  in  bringing  about  the  present  condition  of 
society,  so  far  as  morals  are  concerned.  Which  they  have  all 
accomplished  in  the  aggregate  there  are  no  methods  of  ascertain- 
ing.    If 

"  There's  a  Divinity  that  shapes  our  ends, 
Rough  hew  them  as  we  will," 

We  are  disposed  to  believe  that  He  in  his  providence  has  devised 
the  church  in  all  its  branches  for  the  accomplishment  of  certain 
purposes,  and  the  whys  and  wherefores  are  matters  of  little  concern 
to  us.  If  the  theological  disquisitions  and  discussions  that  have 
taken  place  in  the  last  hundred  years  had  been  devoted  to  the  erad- 
ication of  evil  rather  than  heated  contests,  long  drawn  out,  as  to 
whether  this  denomination  or  that  one  was  the  church  specially 
recognized  and  sanctioned  by  holy  writ,  perhaps  equally  as  much 
good  would  have  been  accomplished.  If  there  shall  be  a  time 
coming  when  the  lamb  and  lion  shall  lie  down  together  and  a  little 
child  shall  lead  them,  then  the  asperities  engendered  by  the  wordy 
warfares  over  the  ipsedixits  of  creeds  and  doctrinal  points,  whether 
essentials  or  non-essentials,  will  have   entirely  disappeared.      The 


172  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY. 


millennium  will  in  all  probability  obliterate  all  the  speculations  of 
doctrinaries  and  consign  to  oblivion  many  learned  theories  of  innu- 
merable learned  D.  D.'s,  He  that  shall  stand  in  the  light  then 
shining  may,  perhaps,  look  into  the  past  centuries  and  see  the  paths 
of  at  least  twelve  tribes  all  converging  towards  the  promised  land. 
There  is  no  royal  highway  leading  up  to  the  New  Jerusalem  of 
which  any  particular  corporation  has  exclusive  privileges  and  sole 
control.  On  the  contrary  there  are  many  ways.  That  which,  for 
designation,  we  call  the  Methodist  way,  may  be  a  little  rough,  and 
its  trains  may  run,  at  times,  at  what  may  seem  a  reckless  speed; 
and  that  other  way,  which  we  may  call  the  Presbyterian  way,  may 
seem  more  solid  and  better  ballasted,  and  its  trains  may  run  with  a 
more  solemn  stillness,  as  it  were;  yet  they  both  tend  to  the  same 
point.  The  trains  on  each  are  through  trains.  The  managers  of 
each  may  speak  in  terms  of  praise  of  the  safet}^  and  ease  and  peace 
of  mind  vouchsafed  by  the  respective  routes,  but  the  passenger, 
when  through,  on  either,  is  tired  and  glad  to  escape  the  incidents 
of  travel.  It  is  not  our  design,  therefore,  in  the  very  brief  sketches 
of  the  various  denominations  mentioned  in  this  chapter  to  enter  into 
an}'  analogies  of  their  differences,  their  accomplishments  or  special 
characteristics.  We  give  the  dates  of  their  organizations,  as  near 
as  attainable,  present  membership,  etc.  Before  that,  howe^•er,  we 
may  be  pardoned  for  mentioning  specially  the 


PIONEER     PREACHER. 


About  as  far  back  as  we  had  settlers  we  had  Baptists,  Presbyte- 
rians, Methodists,  etc.  By  and  by  along  came  the  preacher,  and  he 
selected  out  his  followers.  The  sheep,  though  terribly  scattered, 
heard  the  voice  of  the  shepherd,  and  came  following.  Those  earlv 
shepherds — those  pioneer  preachers — deserve  a  passing  notice. 
Their's  was  no  easy  lot.  Their  lives  did  not  fall  in  pleasant  places. 
Those  who  stood  upon  the  outskirts  of  civilization  and  proclaimed 
the  Word  of  God,  held  no  enviable  positions.  It  was  no  place  of 
ease  and  comfort.     It  was  like  picket  duty,  and  just  as  necessary. 

Those  early  pioneer  preachers  were  men  of  endurance,  and 
sometimes  their  hearers  as  well.  They  wore  their  homespun  and 
preached  homespun  sermons  to  homespun  hearers,  in  similar  logic, 
and  on  similar  subjects.  They  had  no  fine  churches  with  carpeted 
floors  and  cushioned  seats,  and  windows  of  stained  glass,  and  Gothic 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1 73 

roofs,  frescoed  over  with  bugled  angels.  None  of  this.  Their 
meeting  houses ^were  often  groves,  with  grass  for  carpets,  rude  logs 
for  seats,  and  the  broad  canopj  of  heaven  for  a  covering.  Their 
position,  however,  was  not  unenviable.  Their  songs  mingled  with 
the  songs  of  the  birds.  Their  prayers  ascended  to  heaven  on  bree- 
zes bedewed  with  the  perfumes  of  millions  of  wild  flowers.  Their 
voices  echoed  through  the  forests  planted  and  decorated  by  the  hand 
of  God  himself.  There  were  no  reverberations  from  painted  and 
papered  walls,  borne  upon  an  oxidized  atmosphere  filled  with  gases 
from  cracked  furnaces,  and  poisonous  from  diseased  lungs.  With 
pure  and  gentle  breezes  playing  around  him,  the  preacher  preached 
to  reprove,  persuade  and  convince,  and  not  to  keep  his  hearers 
awake.  He  kept  on  preaching,  too,  after  his  thirty  minutes  were 
out,  for  his  hearers  came  to  stay  all  day.  He  finished  up  his  sub- 
ject to  his  own  satisfaction,  at  the  end  of  an  hour,  an  hour  and  a 
half  or  two  hours.  It  was  not  necessary  to  bring  part  of  it  up  at 
the  next  meeting  as  imfinished  business.  That  subject,  or  doctrine, 
was  nailed  down  and  riveted.  No,  the  thirty  minute  executioner 
didn't  stand  over  your  pioneer  preacher  ready  to  lop  the  sermon  in 
two  at  the  end  of  secondly.  The  pioneer  preacher  was  also  in  the 
habit  of  speaking  out  in  meeting.  No  subject  laid  upon  his  mind 
for  weeks  and  months  waiting  for  a  favorable  opportunity  for  ex- 
pression. He  had  no  wrestling  with  his  conscience  about  whether 
he  ought  or  ought  not  to  reprove  brother  or  sister  so  and  so.  He 
spoke  as  he  was  moved  by  the  spirit,  as  it  were,  unmindful  of  what 
brother  was  hit  or  missed.  He  preached  what  he  believed  to  be 
true,  no  matter  if  it  ruffled  the  belief  of  half  his  congregation.  He 
had  no  knack  at  tempering  the  winds  to  shorn  lambs.  He  was 
bold  and  fearless  in  this  respect.  He  could  preach  Perseverance  of 
the  Saints  to  a  whole  conference  of  Methodists.  He  could  preach 
Falling  from  Grace  to  a  synod  of  Presbyterians.  When  he  saw 
the  enemy  attempting  a  flank  movement,  he  moved  on  him  and 
attacked  him  in  his  most  vulnerable  point.  When  the  devil  showed 
himself  he  was  sure  to  be  struck  then  and  there.  There  was  no 
coaxing  and  diplomacy  resorted  to  to  dislodge  satan  from  his  strong- 
hold. The  pioneer  preacher  never  used  tufts  of  grass.  He  took 
a  stone  in  the  first  instance,  and  he  threw  it.  A  two-edged  sword 
was  his  constant  companion,  and  he  kept  it  whetted  sharp. 


74  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


Anrl  then  again  your  pioneer  in  the  wilderness  was  a  man  of  no 
great  pretensions.  He  was  what  he  was,  and  made  no  effort  at 
appearing  to  be  anything  else.  While  his  calling  was  high,  yet, 
like  his  Master,  he  was  found  among  all  classes  and  conditions  of 
society ;  among  the  rich  and  those  that  dwelt  on  fine  lands  and  in 
pleasant  surroundings;  among  the  poor  and  the  wretched,  where 
the  wolf  was  continually  at  their  dooi's.  He  was  a  man  of  simpli- 
city and  plainness.  What  he  was  upon  one  day  of  the  week  he 
was  sure  to  be  upon  all  the  others.  He  had  no  special  Sunday  cloak 
that  covered  up  a  multitude  of  weekly  sins.  His  conduct  was  as 
the  crow  flies,  straight  on,  without  shadow  of  turning.  He  was 
always  a  poor  man.  Like  Goldsmith's  parson,  his  income  was 
exceedingly  meagre. 

THE  CIRCUIT  RIDER. 

The  next  who  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the  pioneer  preacher, 
was  the  regularly  appointed  circuit  rider.  As  the  early  school- 
master was  a  revolving  genius,  so  was  the  circuit  rider,  except  that 
his  territory  was  larger  and  he  revolved  on  horseback.  With  a 
bible,  hymn  book,  horse,  bridle  and  saddle,  and  a  pair  of  saddle 
bags  that  contained  a  change  of  raiment,  the  circuit  rider's  outfit  was 
complete.  He  had  long  rides  to  make  across  wide  prairies  and 
through  dense  forests.  He  faced  the  cold  winds  like  a  hero.  He 
battled  with  the  elements  with  bravery.  The  rain  was  scarcely 
ever  too  hard  or  the  snow  too  deep  to  stop  him.  Like  the  train 
conductor,  he  felt  bound  to  meet  his  connections.  He  studied  and 
practiced  on  his  sermons  and  "  pitched  his  tunes  "  on  horseback,  as 
he  rode  from  one  appointment  to  another.  The  good  old  mothers 
often  stuffed  his  pockets  with  new  socks,  carded,  spun  and  knit 
with  their  own  hands.  Now  and  then  a  new  pair  of  trousers  were 
given  him  as  the  result  of  the  "  chipping  in  "  of  two  or  more 
neighbors.  They  did  not  always  fit  exactly,  for  thev  were  made 
"by  guess,"  but  that  was  a  small  circumstance,  for  the  circuit  rider 
was  none  of  your  fastidious  men.  He  could  not  afford  it  and  his 
calling  was  an  embargo  in  that  direction.  The  pioneer  preacher 
and  the  circuit  rider  are  about  numbered  with  the  things  that  were. 
Meetings  are  no  longer  held  in  the  private  houses  as  in  very  early 
days;  nor  in  the  school  houses,  as  in  a  later  day.  The  substantial 
and  most  expensive   church  houses  that  exist  in  our  cities,  and  the 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


175 


neat  and  modest  ones  of  the  country  neighborhoods  have  supplant- 
ed them. 

THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

The  Methodist  church  was  estabHshed  when  there  were  but  few 
inhabitants  in  the  country,  and  has  kept  pace  with  the  population, 
constantly  advancing  until  it  has  reached  its  present  membei'ship. 

The  first  Methodist  preaching  done  in  this  county,  was  in  the 
Steven's  settlement;  and  the  first  organization  was  eflfected  there  by 
Rev.  W.  L.  Deneen,  which  formed  part  of  what  was  then  known 
as  the  "  Salt  Creek  Circuit,"  Peter  Cartwright  being  the  presiding 
elder.  This  organization  was  formed  in  the  fall  of  1829,  and  con- 
sisted of  about  twelve  members,  of  which  the  following  are  some 
of  the  names:  Buel  Stevens  and  wife,  Luther  Stevens  and  wife, 
Dorus  Stevens,  Joseph  Stevens,  Hollenback,  David  Owen  and  wife, 
and  John  Frazee.  In  the  following  year  several  additions  were 
made  to  the  society  fi-om  the  families  of  Jonathan  and  Isaac  Miller, 
who  moved  to  the  county. 

The  same  year  Dr.  Wm.  T.  Crissey,  Alonzo  Lapham  and  their 
families  moved  from  Edgar  county  and  settled  in  Decatur  and  vicin- 
ity, and  connected  themselves  with  the  chuixh. 

The  first  Methodist  camp  meeting  was  held  the  same  year,  in 
the  Stevens  neighborhood,  on  the  farm  of  David  Owens,  on  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Andrew  Williams  place.  This  was  reserved 
for  a  camp  ground  several  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1831  the  preaching  and  society  were  transferred 
from  that  neighborhood  to  Decatur. 

So  far  as  is  now  known,  the  first  preaching  by  a  Methodist  min- 
ister in  Decatur  was  in  May,  1831,  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Crissey, 
who  came  from  Indiana  on  a  visit  to  his  uncle.  Dr.  W.  T.  Crissey. 
In  the  same  year  several  preaching  places  were  established  in  Ma- 
con county. 

The  first  Methodist  church  building  in  the  county  was  erected  in 
1835,  in  the  town  of  Decatur.  It  was  a  frame  building,  twenty- 
five  feet  by  thirty  feet,  and  a  very  rude,  insignificant  structure  com- 
pared with  those  of  1876.  From  this  beginning  as  seen  from  its 
early  history,  it  has  progressed  to  what  is  shown  by  following  facts 
concerning  its  present  standing: 


1^6  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


There  are  now  in  Macon  county  seven  English  and  two  German 
stations  and  circuits,  making  nine,  all  of  which  have  regular  pas- 
tors. 

There  are  thirteen  English  and  two  German  churches  in  the 
county. 

The  entire  membership  of  the  county  consists  of  2030  members. 

There  are  fifteen  church  buildings  and  five  parsonages. 

The  above  church  property  is  valued  at  $140,000.  There  are  also 
of  this  denomination  fifteen  Sunday  schools  with  about  2000  schol- 
ars, and  a  requisite  number  of  teachers  and  libraries. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  there  is  in  the  city  of  Decatiir  an  Afri- 
can M.  E.  church  of  forty  members,  with  a  church  house  valued  at 
$1500.  There  is  also  a  flourishing  Sunday  school  of  forty  mem- 
bers at  the  same  place. 

*  THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  OF   DECATUR. 

Was  organized  in  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Powers,  on  the  ist  day 
of  May,  1852,  by  the  Rev.  Robert  H.  Lilly,  who  was  appointed  a 
committee  for  that  purpose  by  the  Presbytery  of  Palestine.  The 
members  at  the  organization  were,  David  Hopkins,  Catherine,  his 
wife,  and  Lydia,  their  daughter,  Nancy  Eagar,  Mrs.  Mary  Lilly, 
Miss  Agness  McCormick,  John  Nicholson  and  his  wife  Julia,  and 
Robert  Moftit  and  his  wife  Elizabeth.  David  Hopkins  was  elected 
and  installed  first  ruling  elder.  Rev.  Augustus  F.  Pratt  gathered 
up  this  little  church  and  preached  to  them  one  year.  After  him 
the  Rev.  David  Manfort,  D.  D.,  then  quite  an  old  and  feeble  man, 
served  the  church  faithfully  till  October,  1S54.  About  the  middle 
of  the  next  month  the  church  secured  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
Erastus  W.  Thayer,  who  preached  ably  to  them  till  the  spring  of 
1S57. 

The  congregation  up  to  about  this  time  worshiped  in  the  old 
court  house,  then  in  the  old  academy,  and  in  a  new  building  which 
was  erected  on  east  Main  street,  on  a  lot  belonging  to  Dr.  Roberts 
and  designed  ultimately  for  a  store  house.  About  this  time,  the 
congregation,  having  increased  in  numbers  and  pecuniary  strength, 
began  to  take  the  first  steps  towards  the  erection  of  a  church  edi- 
fice, which  resulted  in  the  brick  church  on  Prairie  street. 

The  next  minister  was  the  Rev.  P.  D.  Young,  who  preached 
one  year,  and  left,  for  reasons  to  the  writer  unknown.  Rev.  T.  M. 
Oveatt  was  invited  to  the  charge  of  the  church  in  July,  1S5S,  and 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  I77 

was,  in  the  following  spring,  installed  as  the  first  regular  pastor  of 
this  church.  He  continued  in  the  pastoral  relation  till  Jan.  1863, 
and  was  succeeded  in  the  following  spring  by  Rev.  D.  C.  Marquis, 
who  was  called  from  this  church  to  the  North  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Chicago,  in  January,  1S66.  The  church,  during  the  pastorate  of 
these  last  two  men,  had  a  steady  and  a  much  more  rapid  growth. 
Mr.  Marquis,  though  a  young  man,  just  out  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Chicago,  had  preaching  pow^ers  of  no  ordinary  char- 
acter. His  sermons  were  evangelical,  clear,  and  profound,  and 
were  delivered  with  great  force  and  animation.  If  he  has  had  any 
equal  as  a  sermonizer  among  the  young  men  in  central  Illinois,  it 
was  his  immediate  successor,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Conn,  now  of  New 
Albany,  Indiana.  Both  these  gentlemen  were  early  honored  with 
the  degree  of  Doctor  Divinitatis;  because  by  native  power  and  hard 
study  they  earned  the  distinction.  Mr.  Conn's  health,  which  was 
never  firm,  suffered  under  the  labor  and  care  of  the  church,  and  in 
September,  186S,  he  closed  his  labors  here.  During  the  last  year 
of  Mr.  Conn's  pastorate  a  second  church  was  organized  in  connec- 
tion with  what  was  called  the  New  School  General  Assembly,  with 
forty-two  members  from  the  First  Church,  and  seven  from  other 
quarters.  This  branch  of  the  church  enjoyed  the  very  acceptable 
services  of  the  Rev.  A.  L.  Brooks  till  after  the  union  of  the  two 
General  Assemblies,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  Danville,  Illinois, 
and  the  two  churches  united  into  one  harmonious  church.  The 
elders  of  both  churches  were  elected  to  constitute  the  session  of  the 
re-united  church.  After  Mr.  Conn  left  the  Rev.  John  Brown, 
D.  D.,  came  over  on  Saturday  and  supplied  this  church  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  next  winter. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  Rev.  James  E.  Moffatt,  a  young  man  from 
the  Chicago  Theological  Seminary,  was  settled  as  pastor^  and  re- 
mained four  years.  After  him  came  the  Rev.  Robert  McKenzie, 
and  preached  a  few  months  over  two  years. 

In  September,  1876,  Rev.  W.  H.  Prestly  accepted  a  call  to  this 
church,  and  is  now  preaching  most  acceptably  to  full  houses. 

The  church,  which  began  with  ten  members  and  one  ruling 
elder,  now  has  about  three  hundred  members,  a  full  bench  of  ruling 
elders,  and  full  boards  of  deacons  and  trustees. 

A  large  and  successful  Sunday  School  is  organized  under  the 
auspices  of  this  church. 

—23 


178  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


THE    CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH, 

The  first  sermon  by  this  denomination  ever  preached  in  Macon 
county,  was  by  Rev.  Jolin  Berrj-,  and  was  in  an  old  log  school 
house  three  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Decatur,  near  the  present 
residence  of  P.  M.    WikofF. 

The  Mt.  Zion  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
on  the  24th  of  April,  1830,  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  David  Foster, 
with  the  following  members:  Allen  Travis,  Peggy  Travis,  An- 
drew Wilson,  Mary  A.  Wilson,  Alexander  M.  Wilson,  Nancy 
Wilson,  Katharine  Wilson,  James  D.' Campbell,  Lovina  Campbell, 
Andrew  Davidson,  Asseneth  R.  Davidson,  Elizabeth  Bell,  Alex- 
ander Bell,  Nancy  Jane  Bell,  John  Davidson,  Rhoda  Davidson, 
Rebecca  Travis,  David  Davis,  Polly  M.  Davis,  John  Smith,  Peggy 
Smith,  Samuel  Davidson,  Elizabeth  Davidson,  Nancy  Davidson, 
Eleanor  Davidson,  William  D.  Baker,  Manila  Baker,  Robert 
Smith,  Nancy  Smith,  Robert  Foster,  Margaret  Foster,  David  Fos- 
ter, Anna  Foster,  Wm.  C.  Foster,  Isabel  Foster,  and  Nancy  Allen 
Foster. 

The  following  are,  the  names  of  the  ministers  who  have  had 
charge  of  this  congregation:  David  Foster,  by  whom  the  church 
was  organized,  Neil  Johnson,  Daniel  Traughber,  Samuel  Ashton, 
John  D.  Cowan,  J.  T.  A.  Henderson,  John  C.  Smith,  R.  T.  Alar- 
low,  R.  T.  Lester,  R.  G.  Carden,  N.  M.  Baker,  and  P.  H.  Crider, 
the  present  pastor. 

The  church  has  at  present  about  175  members,  and  a  Sunday 
School  of  about  70  members.  The  first  Sunday  School  in  the 
covmtv  was  organized  at  this  place  by  the  Rev.  David  Foster  in 
I  S3 1.  The  first  superintendent  was  James  Scott,  and  Andrew  Wil- 
son, assistant. 

The  North  Fork  C.  P.  Church  was  organized  in  April,  1855, 
by  the  Rev.  John  C.  Smith,  at  the  Emerson  school  house,  and  con- 
sisted of  54  members,  all  but  six  of  which  had  previously  been 
members  of  the  Mt.  Zion  congregation. 

Present  membership,  52. 

Present  membership  of  Sunday  school,  66. 

The  successive  pastors  have  been,  Daniel  Traughber,  John  C. 
Smith,  Joseph  R.  Lawrence,  G.  W.  Kinsolving,  W.  P.  Baker,  M. 
Dillow,  W.  L.  Bankson,  and  N.  M.  Baker,  the  present  pastor. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I79 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  this  \'icinity  was  organized  by  Miss 
Charlotte  Emerson,  sister  of  the  late  Judge  Emerson,  who  acted 
as  superintendent  and  teacher.  This  was  organized  in  a  small 
house  in  her  father's  yard,  in  the  year  1S40. 

Bethlehem  C.  P.  Church  was  organized  in  1850,  by  the  Rev. 
John  C.  Smith.  It  consisted  of  51  members;  some  of  which  were 
from  Mt.  Zion  and  Mt.  Carmel  congregations.  At  present  it  has 
100  members,  and  a  Sunday  school  of  60  members. 

The  successive  pastors   have  been  John  C.  Smith,  Abner  Lans- 

den,  James  Pantier,  N.  M.  Baker,  W.  Pinckney  Baker, Ryan, 

Thomas  Montgomer}',  J.  T.  A.  Henderson,  Robert  G.  Carden,  J. 
R.  Lowrance,  T.  G.  Stansberry,  and  the  present  pastor,  W.  L. 
Bankson. 

The  Madisox  C.  P.  Church  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  John 
C.  Smith,  from  members  formerly  belonging  to  the  Bethlehem  and 
Mt.  Carmel  congregations,  and  has  a  flourishing  membership  and 
Sunday  school.     The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Jesse  Beals. 

There  are  also  organized  churches  of  this  denomination  near 
Argenta,  in  Friend's  Creek  township;  at  Prairie  Hall,  in  Mt.  Zion 
township,  and  at  Shady  Grove,  in  Wheatland  township. 

THE    CHRISTIAN    CHURCH. 

This  chuch  was  organized  in  the  year  1830,  by  Elder  Joseph 
Hostetler,  of  whom  a  biographical  sketch  may  be  found  in  another 
part  of  this  book.  The  place  of  organization  was  in  the  old  log 
court  house,  which  then  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  old  square, 
but  has  since  been  moved  east  of  Decatur. 

The  charter  members  of  the  organization  were,  Thomas  Cowan 
and  wife,  Warner  G.  Strickland  and  wife,  Elizabeth  Cantrall,  Steph- 
en Shepherd  and  wife  Dr.  Bartley  Gorin  and  wife,  Col.  Joseph 
Johnson  and  wife,  Charlotte  Turpin,  and  Mrs.  Harrold,  none  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

The  following  have  served  this  church  in  the  ministry:  Joseph 
Hostetler,  John  W.  Tyler,  George  A.  Patterson,  James  Fanning, 
B.  W.  Henry,  Robert  Foster,  J.  P.  Lancaster,  Hughey.  Bowles, 
Walter  P.  Bovles,  Wm.  Harrow,  Tobias  Grider,  A.J.  Kane,  W. 
B.  Happy,  Wm.  Ebert,  Dr.  John  Hughes,  Wm.  C.  Dawson,  P.  D. 
Vermillion,  Ira  Mitchell,  Lucius  Ames,  A.  D.  Northcutt,  and  the 
present  pastor,  F.  S.  Haynes. 


l8o  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


The  present  membership  is  225.  Its  Sunday  school  was  organ- 
ized in  1855,  by  E.  M.  Nabb,  who  was  its  first  superintendent. 
Ransom  Wright,  W.  E.  Nelscni,  W.  W.  Shockey,  W.  E.  Brigham, 
L.  B.  C.  Leffingwell,  N.  S.  Haynes  and  W.  L.  Hammer  have  suc- 
ceeded to  the  superintendency.  The  present  enrohment  of  this 
school  is  154.     The  value  of  church  property  is  $10,000. 

THE  UNITED   BRETHREN  CHURCH. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  this  county  by  a  U.  B.  preacher 
was  by  Rev,  James  Parks,  in  the  spring  of  1848,  at  the  house  of 
Rev.  M.  T.  Chew,  five  miles  southwest  of  Decatur.  The  first 
class  consisted  of  these  two  persons  and  Mrs.  M.  T.  Chew\  In 
the  fall  they  petitioned  to  the  annual  conference  to  send  them  a 
preacher.  James  Parks  was  licensed  by  the  conference  and  re- 
turned to  act  as  minister  of  this  small  class.  There  were  but  three 
families  in  the  community,  and  often  there  were  but  two  or  three 
present  at  the  meetings. 

The  first  church  in  Decatur  of  this  denomination  was  orgfanized 
in  181^6,  by  the  Rev.  M.  Ambrose,  in  the  old  Masonic  Hall.  The 
charter  members  were,  S.  B.  McClelland,  J.  E,  McClelland, 
Rachel  McClelland,  S.  W.  Hamsher,  Sarah  Hamsher,  Jacob  Bohn 
and  Mary  Bohn.  The  next  year  they  succeeded  in  erecting  a 
church  house  on  Cerro  Gordo  and  North  Main  streets. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  ministers  who  have  had 
charge  of  this  congregation:  M.  Ambrose,  A.  Winsett,  T.  A. 
Tawney,  S.  P.  Hay,  L.  M.  Bennett,  H.  H.  Hilbish,  A.  A.  Shesler, 
S.  Levick,  H.  El  well,  L.  Fields,  and  Isaac  Kretzinger,  the  present 
pastor.  In  1873  the  church  purchased  two  lots  at  a  cost  of  $23:50 
and  erected  a  new  house  at  a  cost  of  $5000.  This  is  located  on  the 
corner  of  Broadway  and  Edwards  streets.  The  present  member- 
ship is  85,  and  a  Sunday-school  of  115  scholars. 

The  following][are  thie  statistics  of  the  county: 

Number  of  church  houses,  10. 

Members  in  county,  500. 

Number  of  Sunday  schools,  11. 

Total  number  of  scholars,  620. 

Total  value  of  church  property,  $19,600. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  l8l 


BAPTIST  DENOMINATIONS. 

The  Decatur  Baptist  church  (United  Baptist)  was  organized  on 
the  14th  of  September,  1S43,  "^  ^^^^  liouse  of  David  L.  Allen. 

It  was  composed  in  its  first  organization  of  the  following  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Baptist  church  of  Springfield  :  David  L.  Allen, 
Julia  E.  Allen,  Thomas  H.  Read,  Elizabeth  Read,  David  Brett, 
Margaret  Brett,  Henry  Rigs,  Malinda  Rigs,  Lemuel  Allen,  Rob- 
ert Allen,  Margaret  Pratt,  and  S.  C.  Allen.  It  was  organized  by 
Elder  H.  W.  Dodge. 

The  first  house  of  worship,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Water 
and  William  streets,  was  dedicated  Dec.  27,  1857.  They  have  now 
a  much  more  commodious  and  elegant  building  on  North  street, 
between  Water  and  Franklin  streets.  The  successive  pastors  have 
been,  H.  W.  Dodge,  Moses  Lemon,  B.  Carpenter,  C.  H.  Gates,  N. 
Alvord,  J.  N.  Tolman,  B.  F.  Thomas,  S.  G.  Miner,  F.  M.  Ellis,  F. 
G.  Thearle,  S.  F.  Holt,  J.  C.  Banham,  and  W.  G.  Inman.  The 
present  number  of  members  is  about  175.  It  has  also  a  flourishing 
Sabbath  School  of  over  200  members. 

THE   ROLLING  MILL    CHAPEL 

Was  erected  by  the  Baptist  church  in  1871,  at  a  cost  of  $2500.     It 
has  a  Sabbath  school  of  150  members. 

ANTIOCH,  AFRICAN. 

This  was  organized  in  the  year  185S,  with  14  members.  House 
of  worship  on  South  Main  street,  near  Brambles'  Grove. 

There  is  also  a  new  church  of  this  denomination  at  Oreana. 

SALEM  CHURCH  (SEPARATE    BAPTIST.) 

This  church  is  located  five  miles  southwest  of  Decatur.  It  was 
organized  in  1846,  with  the  following  members:  John  Burke» 
Micajah  Burke,  L.  B.  Ward,  Elizabeth  Ward,  Coleman  Brown, 
Elizabeth  Brown,  Ephriam  Cox,  Nancy  Cox  and  Amos  Walker. 
The  successive  pastors  have  been,  Robert  Henson,  J.  W.  Vaughan, 
John  Turner,  F.  S.  Randolph,  S.  B.  N.  Vaughan,  and  others.  The 
membership  at  present  numbers  about  40.  It  has  a  Sunday  school 
of  about  40  members.  ^ 

The  cemetery  at  this  church,  perhaps  the  oldest  in  the  county, 
was  commenced  in  the  year  1829  or  1830.  A  Mr.  Mangrin  and 
wife  were  the  first  buried  there. 


l82  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


OLD  SCHOOL  OR   PRESBYTERIAN   BAPTIST. 

This  church  never  had  a  regular  church  organization  in  this 
county,  though  there  have  been  ministers  and  pi"eaching  since  a 
very  early  day  indifferent  localities  throughout  the  county.  There 
is  a  membership  of  about  50  persons,  who  belong  to  the  different 
societies  throughout  the  Sangamon  Association,  which  extends 
throughout  Central  Illinois.  The  first  minister  of  this  denomina- 
tion who  preached  in  this  county  was  William  Shields,  who  was 
the  contractor  for  the  old  court  house.  The  next  was  Michael 
Mann,  from  Logan  county.  John  B.  Moore,  C.  B.  Stafford,  John 
Alsbury,  Charles  Alsbury,  Stephen  Hugle,  Chester  Carpenter 
Richard  Newport,  Daniel  Parker,  P.  McCary,  Lemuel  Davis, 
William  A.  Thompson,  Joseph  Richardson,  Edmund  T.  Morris, 
William  L.  Campbell,  A.  W.  Murray,  James  H.  Ring,  and  John 
H.  Myers  have  successively  preached  to  the  people  of  this  denom 
ination  throughout  the  county.  Mr.  Myers,  who  is  one  of  our 
oldest  native  born  citizens,  is  now  preaching  regularly  in  the  city 
of  Decatur,  and  expects  to  organize  a  church  during  the  spring  of 
1877. 

UNIVERSALIST    CHURCH. 

• 

This  society  was  organized  in  1854,  by  Rev.  D.  P.  Bunn.  The 
early  inembers  of  the  organization  were  Joseph  Spangler,  sr. ; 
Joseph  Spangler,  jr. ;  Jacob  Spangler,  J.  B.  Hanks  and  wife,  John 
Rickets  and  wife,  John  Capps  and  wife.  The  present  member- 
ship is  about  75.  The  successive  pastors  of  the  church  have  been, 
D.  P.  Bunn,  (14  years,)  S.  S.  Hebberd,  S.  F.  Gibb,  and  M.  W. 
Tabor.     The  present  value  of  the  church  property  is  $10,000. 

A  Sunday  school  was  organized  in  connection  with  the  church 
in  1854,  and  has  continued  uninterruptedly  since,  with  a  present 
membership  of  50. 

CHURCH    OF    GOD. 

Decatur  Church. — This  church  was  organized  in  May,  1S57, 
by  Elder  A.  J.  Fenton,  with  u  members,  viz:  Jackson  Fisher 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Howenstine,  Mrs.  David  Givler,  David  Hamsher, 
John  Hamsher  and  wife,  J.  Fenton  and  wife,  Mrs.  Fisher,  and  Ja- 
cob Knisely.  The  successive  pastors  have  been,  A.  J.  Fenton, 
David  Kyle,  J.  H.  Hurley,  James  Worncr, Connelly,  Thomas 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  183    t 

DeShen  V,  R.  White,  J.  B.   Soule,  S.   M.   Newcomer,  Henry  L. 
Soule,  O.  V.  Kennison,  and  W.  B.  Allin. 

Present  membership,  75. 

There  is  a  Sunday  school  under  the  control  of  the  church  of 
about  75  scholars. 

Value  of  church  property,  $4,000. 

There  are  churches  of  this  denomination  at  Boiling  Springs, 
Hickory  township;  Fairview,  in  same  township;  Warrensburg  and 
near  Macon. 

CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 

St.  Patrick's  Church  was  organized  in  1854,  and  the  present 
chui'ch  building  erected  in  1S63,  which,  at  the  time,  was  the  most 
costly  church  edifice  in  the  county.  There  is  a  membership  of 
something  over  three  hundred  families,  and  a  large  Sunday  school 
in  connection  with  the  church.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hickey. 

PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 

St.  Johns,  of  Decatur. — This  church  was  organized  in  1856, 
with  the  following  members:  Wm.  Prather,  C.  H.  Fuller,  M.  S. 
Fuller,  Cyril  Fuller,  Maurice  Fuller,  Chas.  B.  Smythe,  Elam  Rust, 
M.  E.  F.  Rust,  Chas.  M.  Smythe,  J.  W.  Richardson,  Jas.  Simpson, 
Sarah  Simpson,  Emma  lyutrell,  S.  D.  Macy,  A.  S.  Halbert.  The 
successive  Rectors  of  the  church  have  been.  Rev.  S.  R.  Child,  Rev. 
W.  L.  Bostwick,  Rev.  E.  P.  Wright,  Rev.  W^m.  M.  Steel,  Rev. 
Silas  Totten,  D.  D.,  Rev.  S.  D.  Pulford,  Rev.  P.  McKim,  Rev. 
W.  W.  DeWolf,  and  Rev.  Stephen  H.  Granberry.  The  latter  is 
the  present  rector. 


Note. — We  notice  the  different  churches  of   Maroa,    Macon,  etc.,  in  con- 
nection with  the  history  of  those   towns  found  in  Chap.  VIII. 


[84  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


MASONIC  ORGANIZATIONS. 


MACON  LODGE  NO,  8,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

This  Lodge  was  chartered  Oct.  5,  1841,  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
the  State.  Its  charter  members  were  George  A.  Patterson,  Joseph 
King,  WilHam  Laforgee,  Henry  Prather,  Elijah  League,  Leonai'd 
Ashton,  and  James  Ashton.     The  officers  were — 

Geo.  A.  Patterson W.  M.    |    Joseph  King S.  W. 

Wm.  Laforgee J.  W. 

The  present  officers  are — 

W.  W.  Foster W.  M.  |  W.  L.  Hammer T. 

F.  M.  Cox S.  W.  I  J.  S.  Carter S. 

A.  C.  Corman J.  W.  |  James  L.  Peake Tyler. 

This  Lodge  is,  as  will  be  seen  by  its  number,  one  of  the  oldest 
Lodges  in  the  State,  and  is  the  owner  of  considerable  property  in 
Decatur. 

IONIC  LODGE  NO.  312,  A.   F.  &  A.  M. 

Ionic  Lodge  was  chartered  in  Oct.  1859 — the  following  named 
persons  constituting  the  charter  members:  A.  B.  Bunn,  Geo.  R. 
Moffitt,  D.  W.  C.  Hardy,  S.  S.  Goode,  Joseph  Lowenstein,  J.  M. 
Lowry,  and  George  Goodman.  It  has  at  present  a  membership  of 
96.     The  following  are  the  present  officers^— 

J.N.  Baker W.M.  |  A.  A. Murry Treas . 

W.  PI.  Stoer S.W.   |  John  O.  Barnes Sec'y. 

Wm  .  Young .    J  .  W  .   |  Wm  .  Towling Tiler . 

MACON  CHAPTER   NO.  51,  R.  A.  M. 

This  Chapter  was  organized  Sept.  29,  1855,  by  the  Grand  Chap- 
ter of  the  State  of  Illinois,  with  the  following  named  persons  as 
officers : 


D.  P.  Bunn H.  P 

J .  R .  Gorin King 

Henry  Prather Scribe 

Josiah  Hunt C  .  H 


W.  H.  Ennis M.  1st  V. 


W.  W.  Oglesby P.  S. 

Jos.  King R.A.C. 

J.  C.  Weaver M.  3d  V. 

J.J.  Peddecord M  .  2d  V  . 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


185 


Present  officers — 

A.  A.  Murry H.  P. 

J.  S.  King K. 

E  .  D .  Carter S , 

R.  C.  Crocker C.  H, 

W.  H.   Gipson P.  S, 

A  .  C  .  Corman R  .  A  .  C 


W.  H.  Starr G.M.  3  V. 

J.  N.   Baker G.M.  2  V. 

A.  L.  Roberts.... G.M.  i  V. 
W.  L.  Hammer ....  Treasurer. 

W  .  H  .  Wilson Secretary , 

Wm  .  Tovvling Tiler. 


K.  T. 


BEAUMANOIR    COMMANDERY    NO.    9, 

This  Commandery  was  organized  Nov.  3,  1859,  by  the  Grand 
Commandery  of  Illinois,  with  the  following  named  persons  as 
charter  members:  Robert  Green,  S.  T.  Greer,  I.  C.  Pugh,  C.  H. 
Fuller,  John  N.  Fuller,  Geo.  W.  Bright,  Jerome  R.  Gorin,  Henry 
Hummell,  Wm.  Dewees,  Wm.  Martin. 

The  following  persons  are  the  present  officers : 

W.  L.  Hammer T . 


A .  A .   Murray E  .  C 

D.  P.  Elwood Gen'l'mo 

W.  M.  Camp C .  G 

J  .    H .   Babbitt S .  W 

J.   N.  Baker J.  W 


Wm .  Towling. 


J .  S .  Hand Recorder. 

J  .  T  .  Barnett  ....  St'd.  Bearer. 
W.J.  Wayne  ....  Sw'd  Bearer. 

CM.  Imboden Warden . 

C.  of  G. 


ODD  FELLOWS'  ORGANIZATIONS. 


DECATUR    I.ODGE  NO.  65,  I.  O.  OF  O.   F. 

This  lodge  was  organized  in  July,  1850,  with  the  following  named 
persons  as  charter  members:  S.  K.  Thompson,  H.  Hummell,  J. 
R.  Turner,  B.  F.  Oglesby  and  John  W.  Koehler.  This  is  the  old- 
est lodge  of  this  order  in  Decatur,  and    has   considerable   property. 

The  present  officers  are : 


Wm .  Ragan N  .  G . 

Bruce  Woodruff. ....  V  .  G .  R . 
Rev .  Inman R  .  .S  . 


P  .  D .  Kline P .  S . 

John  Ulrich T. 

J.  W.  Rockway  ..D.  D.G.M. 


1 86 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


CELESTIAL  LODGE  NO.    l86,  I.  O.  OF  O.  F. 

This  lodge  was  organized  Oct.  I3,  1855,  with  the  following 
named  persons  as  charter  members:  W.  W.  Oglesby,  P.  D.  Kline, 
S.  K.  Thompson,  Henry  P.  Elliott,  R.  F.  Jones,  Joseph  King,  Jas. 
Shoaff,  J.  L.  Peake,  A.  J.  Wolf,  C.  H.  Fuller,  Geo.  W.  Baker,  B. 
H.  Cassell,  and  John  J.  Ballentine. 

The  present  officers  are : 


John  Armstrong N .  G . 

Samuel  Funk V.  G, 

John  Mark R.  S. 


Joseph  Gates P  .  S . 

I.  W.  Ehrman T. 

G.  W.  Patterson,  D.  D.  G.  M. 


ENCAMPMENT  NO.  37,  I.  O.  OF  O.  F. 

I  ^This  encampment  was  organized  Dec,  1856,  with  the  following- 
persons  as  charter  members:  G.  A.  Smith,  H.  Kain,  B.  F.  McCoy, 
Hamilton  McCoy,  William  T.  Peake,  Stephen  Grimes,  Peter  Ter- 
rell and  Alonzo  Pierce. 
The  present  officers  are : 

Henry  Bower C .  P  .      George  Cole J  .  W . 

John  G  .    Cloyd H .  P  .      Wm .  Towling Scribe . 

P.  D.  Kline S.  W.      Geo.  W.  Patterson T. 

E.G.  Richmond ....D.  D.  G.  M. 


DAUGHTERS  OF  REBEKAH. 


BENEVOLENT    LODGE  NO.  6l,  I.  O.  OF    O.  F. 

This  lodge  was  organized  October  14,  1873,  with  the  following 
persons  as  charter  members:  I.  N.  Martin,  P.  L.  Kline,  Wm. 
Towling,  G.W.Baker,  Newton  Edwards,  B.  J.  Schock,  Joseph 
Mills,  Wm.  McDonald,  B.  Stine,  John  Ulrich,  M.  Forstmeyer,  E. 
Swartz,  O.  F.  McKim,  Mrs.  I.  N.  Martin,  Miss  Kate  Towling, 
Mrs.  Kate  Baker,  H.  Swartz,  Mrs.  R.  Jones,  Mrs.  Ballentine. 

The  present  officers  are : 


W.  Patterson N.  G. 

Mrs.  Wm.   Young V.  G. 

Mrs .  L .  L .  Haworth T . 


Mrs.  E.  P.  Tuttle R.  S, 

Mrs.  H.  H.  Staffiird .  .  . .  F .  S, 
Geo.  Patterson  . .  .  .  D.  D.  G.  M , 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1S7 


I.  O.  G.  T. 

Decatur  Lodge  No.  568,  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Good 
Templars,  was  chartered  on  the  23d  day  of  February,  1874.  The 
following  named  persons  are  among  the  60  charter  memhers  who 
assisted  in  the  organization  and  who  still  reside  in  the  county:  D. 
L.  Bunn,  Jesse  Lefargee,  Aurilla  Culver,  S.  A.  Jones,  Jennie 
Young,  S.  H.  Corman,  Sallie  Blair,  Mattie  Hanks  (Righter),  Theo. 
Coleman,  J.J.  H.  Young,  W.  H.  Hubbard,  M.  Y.  Givler,  Casper 
Bazou,  Mary  Bazou,  and   Ben.  H.  Righter. 

The  present  officers  are: 


D  .  L  .  Bunn L  .  D  . 

W.  G.  Inman P.  W.  C.  T. 

John  House 


Theo .  Coleman  . . . .  W .  C  .  T . 

Ruth  Culver W.  V.  T. 

W.  S. 


DECATUR  PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 


This  library  was  the  result  of  the  labors  of  the  Ladies'  Library 
Association,  which  was  organized  some  eight  years  ago.  The  li- 
brary was  collected  and  managed  by  that  association  until  Sept.  9, 
1875,  when  all  the  books  and  furniture  were  transferred  to  the  city 
of  Decatur,  and  is  is  now  under  the  auspices  of  the  city  council. 
There  were  in  the  library  when  control  was  assumed  oy  the  city 
1692  volumes  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  half  year  there  were  1300 
borrowers.  During  this  period  17,572  books  had  been  loaned,  or 
an  average  of  117  per  day,  and  28,345  persons  had  visited  the 
rooms.  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  24,933  books  had  been  loaned, 
or  3130  per  month,  and  40,138  persons  had  visited  the  library  and 
recorded  their  names,  which  the  librarian  estimates  is  not  more  than 
half  the  actual  visitors,  as  many  visitors  do  not  record  their  names. 
At  present  the[number  of  volumes  in  the  library  is  in  excess  of  2000 
and  is  being  increased  as  the  funds  under  the  control  of  the  library 
board  will  justify.  The  library  is  supported  by  a  tax  levied  upon 
the  city  property  under  the  law  of  the  state.  There  is  in  connec- 
tion with  the  library  a  reading  room,  on  the  files  of  which  are  kept 
all  the  leading  newspapers,  journals,  magazines,  etc.,  of  the  United 
States.  Fifty  different  newspapers  alone  are  on  file.  The  books 
in  the  library  have  been  selected  with  care  and  judgment,  and  it  is 
useless  to  add  anything  more  than  the  above  exhibit  of  the  number 
of  readers  to  show  the  benefit  being  derived  by  the  public  through 


1 88  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

this  small  library.  It  is  hoped  that  the  number  of  books  will  soon 
be  increased  so  as  to  meet  the  public  demand,  as  it  is  felt  that  the 
present  facilities  are  entirely  inadequate.  The  interest  the  commu- 
nity takes  in  reading  and  general  information  derived  from  a  gen- 
eral library  and  reading  rooms,  is  a  matter  of  education  to  a  large 
extent.  The  aggregate  value  to  be  attached  to  this  channel  of  in- 
formation cannot  be  estimated.  Many  young  persons  are  found 
daily  at  the  library  and  reading  rooms,  engaged  in  reading  useful 
books  or  papers  who  otherwise  would  be  denied  any  privi- 
lesres  in  that  direction  for  want  of  means.  Others  are  there  who 
have  cultivated  a  taste  for  the  study  and  perusal  of  useful  books, 
who  otherwise  might  be  cultivating  a  taste  for  vice  in  some  one  of 
its  thousand  enticing  forms. 

The  following  constitute  the  present  members  of  the  libraiy  man- 
agement : 

W.  A.  Barnes,  President. 
Mrs.  S.  F.  Greer,  Secretary. 
R.  L.   Evans,  Librarian. 

Directors. — W.  A.  Barnes,  J.  L.  Peake.  W.  L.  Hammer,  Mrs. 
vS.  F.  Greer,  Mrs.  B.  F.  Sibley,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Ewing,  W.  W.  Foster, 
Fred.  Kuney,  W.  T.  Wells. 

standinh;  committees. 

Admi  u  i strati  on. —  SN.  L.  Hammer,  W.  T.  Wells,  Mrs.  B.  F. 
Sibley. 

Finance, — J.  L.  Peake,  W.  L.  Hammer,  Mrs.  C.  A.  Ewing. 

Binldings  and  Gro2inds. — Fred.  Kuney,  J.  L.  Peake,  Mrs.  C. 
A.  Ewing. 

By-Laws  and  Regulations. — W.  W.  Foster,  Fred.  Kuney, 
Mrs.  B.  F.  Sibley. 

Library  and  Reading  Room. — W.  T.  Wells,  W.  W.  Foster, 
Mrs.  S.  F.  Greer. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  1S9 


CHAPTER     \'  I  I 


OUR  MANUFACTORIES. 


We  give  below  a  few  brief  sketches  of  some  of  our  principal 
manufacturing  institutions,  though  we  fail  to  notice  all,  for  want  of 
space,  what  we  have  to  say  is  not  in  the  wav  of  laudation  or  ful- 
some praise  of  any  of  tl;c  institutions  mentioned,  nor  as  an  adver- 
tisement to  either  of  them;*  but  to  illustrate  as  best  we  can  the 
present  condition  of  the  county  in  this  department  of  wealth  and 
pi-ogress.  We  have  aimed  thus  far  in  this  work  to  treat  of  facts  as 
we  find  them,  without  undue  praise  or  partiality.  Of  the  import- 
ance to  be  attached  to  manufacture  in  adding  to  the  prosperity  of  a 
city  or  locality,  nothing  need  be  said.  W^e  only  need  point  to 
places  having  equal  facilities- — one  with  manufacturing  institutions, 
and  the  other  with  none.  The  one  is  alive  with  energy  and  activ- 
ity, the  other  is  dead;  the  streets  of  one  city  are  noisy  and  bustling 
with  business  and  trade,  and  those  of  the  other  are  lifeless  and  inac- 
tive; the  one  grows  rapidly,  and  soon  has  its  buildings,  its  churches, 
its  schools  and  colleges  of  superior  merit  and  magnificence,  the  other 
has  its  old  tumble-down,  rickety  rookeries,  and  its  grog-shops  are 
the  principal  places  where  the  people  congregate. 

Among  the  early  manufacturing  institutions  of  the  county  was 
the  "  old  ox  mill,"  erected  just  east  of  the  old  Revere  house  site,  in 
the  year  1S39.  This  was  erected  by  J.J.  Peddecord,  Ninian  Ped- 
decord  and  E.  O.  Smith.  The  motive  power  was  obtained  by  pla- 
cing three  or  four  cows  upon  an  inclined  wheel,  their  heads  being 

*  No  institutien  mentioned  in  this  chapter  has  contributed  one  cent  for  the 
notice  given  it,  and  some  of  them  not  even  subscribed  for  this  work. 


190  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


secured  to  a  cross  beam.  Much  difficulty  was  experienced  for  some 
time  after  this  mill  was  set  in  operation,  in  getting  the  machinery  so 
regulated  as  to  be  under  the  control  of  the  person  in  charge.  The 
gearing  apparatus  was  not  perfect,  and  occasionally  a  cog  slipped, 
or  the  connections  between  the  wheel  and  the  mill  machinery  be- 
came detached,  and  then  there  was  a  runaway.  The  cows  would 
become  frightened  and  commence  running,  which  gave  the  revolu- 
tions of  the  wheel  more  velocity,  and  then  a  scene  of  general  con- 
sternation spread  throughout  the  village.  All  kind-hearted  citizens 
would  rush  to  the  rescue,  and  assist  "  Uncle  Henry  "  in  stopping 
his  mill,  by  throwing  rails  and  logs  under  the  wheel.  Some  of  the 
cows  on  the  wheel  being  larger  unable  to  keep  up  with  it,  its  rev- 
olutions were  so  rapid,  would  be  found  dragging  by  the  head.  The 
bellowing  of  the  cows,  the  screaking  of  the  machinery,  the  smash- 
ing of  the  rails;  the  quick,  excited  and  shrill  voice  of  "  Uncle  Hen- 
ry," in  giving  orders,  are  remembered  by  many  of  the  old  settlers, 
and  related  with  wonderful  minuteness.  When  it  was  announced 
that  the  mill  was  running  away  with  itself,  then  there  was  running 
to  and  fro  like  there  was  at  Belgium's  capital,  on  a  certain  noted 
occasion. 

The  principal  product  of  this  mill  was  corn  meal,  and  the  tolls 
derived  glutted  the  market,  and  there  being  no  demand  except  the 
home  demand,  the  mill  soon  proved  an  unprofitable  investment,  and 
was  sold  to  Joseph  Stickel.  He  sought  to  make  it  a  paying  invest- 
ment by  grinding  corn  for  Allen's  distillery.  As  soon,  however, 
as  it  was  known  that  he  was,  in  this  indirect  way,  giving  "  aid  and 
comfort,"  as  it  were,  to  the  production  of  whisky,  he  was  brought 
before  the  church,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  required  to 
produce  the  "  thus  saith  the  Lord,"  for  his  iniquitous  and  nefarious 
traffic,  or  be  expelled  from  the  church.  What  the  result  was  of 
the  indictment  of  Bro.  Joe,  we  do  not  know,  but  so  it  was,  how- 
ever, in  a  short  time  the  mill  ceased  to  run,  and  was  purchased  by 
a  man  from  Clinton,  by  the  name  of  Ward,  and  was  converted  into 
a  carding  factory,  and  run  as  such  for  a  great  many  years. 

It  may  not  be  known  to  many  that  lime  was  ever  manufactured 
in  this  county,  but  such  is  the  fact.  Capt.  D.  L.  Allen,  at  an  early 
day  erected  a  lime  kiln  on  the  river,  a  short  distance  southwest  of 
the  city  of  Decatur,  at  what  is  still  known  as  the  "old  lime  kiln 
ford."     He  manufactured  a  considerable  quantity  of  lime  from  lime- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I9I 

stone  obtained  in  that  vicinity,  sufficient,  at  least,  to  meet  the  wants 
of  our  people.  The  lime  produced  is  said  to  have  been  of  a  very  fine 
grade,  and  was  purchased  by  builders  in  Springfield  on  account  of 
the  superior  finishing  qualities  it  possessed. 

Senator  R.  J.  Oglesby  was  imbued,  in  his  early  days,  with  the 
idea  that  rope  making  would  be  a  success,  and  started  a  rope  fac- 
tory. Hemp  was  raised  and  ropes  were  actually  made  and  j^laced 
in  the  market  by  Mr.  O.,  but  the  remuneration  not  being  adequate 
to  meet  his  expectations,  the  rope  works,  after  a  year  or  so,  were 
abandoned. 

THE    DECATUR    FURNITURE    COMPANY. 

This  is  one  of  our  largest  manufacturing  establishments.  It  was 
commenced  in  1866,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wm.  Lintner  &  Co. 
Mr.  L.  sold  his  interest  in  1S75  to  his  co-partners,  Messrs.  Pedde- 
cord  &  Burrows,  who  are  now  the  owners  of  the  entire  establish- 
ment. This  firm  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of 
furniture,  and  has  a  capital  invested  in  the  business  of  about  one 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  furniture  manufactured  by  this 
firm  is  shipped  to  all  parts  of  Illinois,  Missouri,  Iowa,  and  Indiana; 
the  sales  of  which  amount,  in  the  aggregate,  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  dollars  annually.  The  lumber  used  by  the  company 
is  obtained  from  southern  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  Tennessee,  and  is 
required  to  be  selected  with  great  care,  as  none  but  the  best  is  suit- 
able for  the  grades  of  furniture  manufactured  by  this  company. 
The  yearly  pay-roll  will  average  about  100  men,  to  whom  is  paid 
annually  about  $50,000.  It  is  a  matter  of  verification  that  the 
number  of  persons  deriving  a  support  from  this  factory  alone,  will 
equal  in  numbers,  if  not  exceed,  the  entire  population  of  Decatur 
prior  to  the  building  of  our  railroads. 

The  company  is  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wood  pumps, 
which  are  sold  largely  throughout  the  northwest.  The  business 
was  commenced  by  the  manufacture  of  this  article  in  1863,  ^' 
Messrs.  Barnes  &  Lintner,  who  employed,  at  the  commencement, 
not  to  exceed  a  half  dozen  men.  As  the  business  increased,  new 
buildings  were  erected  and  machinery  purchased,  until  at  present 
the  main  building  used  by  the  company  is  108x36  feet,  five  stories 
high,  with  two   additional  buildings  100x32  and  99x92,  each  three 


19^ 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


stories  high,  besides  other  out  houses  used  for  the  drying  and  stor- 
age of  lumber. 

The  raih-oad  facihties  at  this  point  enables  this  firm  to  compete 
successfully  with  the  older  and  larger  establishments  of  Cincinnati 
and  eastern  cities. 

The  established  reputation  and  capital  of  the  Decatur  Furniture 
Co.,  will  continue  to  render  it  one  of  the  manufacturing  institutions 
which  Decatur  and  Macon  county  may  justly  be  proud  of, 

UNION    IKON     WORKS. 

These  works  are  among  the  most  important  of  our  manufactur- 
ing institutions.  They  were  commenced  in  1S64  by  Burroughs  & 
Co.,  upon  a  limited  scale,  intending  at  the  time  only  to  start  a  first- 
class  repair  shop  for  machinery.  Like  all  institutions  of  the  kind, 
however,  that  are  backed  by  capital  and  industry,  their  work  in- 
creased as  its  character  became  known.  Additions  have  been  made 
to  the  buildings,  machinery  facilities,  etc.,  from  time  to  time,  to  the 
extent  of  $75,000.  The  company  is  at  present  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  steam  engines,  mill  and  elevator  machinery,  the 
Western  Corn-Sheller  and  Cleaner,  and  general  repairing.  Their 
facilities  are  such  that  engines  of  the  most  powerful  construction,  as 
well  as  of  the  most  intricate  nature,  are  being  made  here  and  ship- 
ped to  all  parts  of  the  west,  and  east  as  far  as  Ohio,  and  south  as 
far  as  Tennessee. 

About  one  hundred  thousand  dollars^vorth  of  work  is  annually 
turned  out  by  the  firm,  requiring  a  working  force  of  at  least  thirty- 
five  men — the  most  of  whom  are  skilled  mechanics.  The  chief 
characteristics  of  the  engines  manufactured  are,  durability,  simpli- 
city and  symmetry.  In  the  construction  of  the  various  parts  thev 
avoid  cLumsiness  and  weight,  except  where  absolutely  necessar}'  'for 
strength.  Fi'om  all  the  information  we  have  been  able  to  obtain 
from  persons  who  have  used  engines  manufactured  by  the  Union 
Iron  Works,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  th;^*^  their  work  is  entitled 
to  be  classed  as  equal  to  any  other  product  of  western  skill.  The 
woi-k  of  manufacturing  engines  is  divided  into  separate  and  distinct 
departments,  and  each  department  has  a  superintendent  who  has 
attained  his  position  by  years  of  practical  experience. 

Another  branch  of  the  business  of  this  firm  is  devoted  to  furnish- 
ing plans  and  specifications,  and  superintending  the  construction  of 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY 


■93 


flour   mills    and   elevators.     Millwrights  arc    constantly   kept   em- 
ployed in  this  department. 

Within  the  last  two  years,  the  manufacture  of  the  "Western 
Corn  Sheller"  and  the  "Western  Corn  Cleaner"  has  been  engaged 
in.  These  machines  are  the  inventions  of  C.  C.  Burrougfhs,  one  of 
the  members  of  the  firm,  and  are  meeting  with  a  success  scaixelv 
anticipated  by  the  inventor.  They  are  supplanting  the  old  ma- 
chines that  have  been  in  popular  favor  for  years,  and  are  destined  to 
be  of  material  benefit  to  the  whole  agricultural  west.  Three  of 
the  principal  articles  of  manufacture  of  Macon  county  are  Macon 
county  inventions,  and  are  designed  to  supply  the  wants  of  our  ag- 
ricultural community.  The  one  above  inentioned,  while  we  have 
no  space  to  devote  to  a  description  of  its  merits,  we  doubt  not  will 
become,  when  properly  before  the  public,  an  article  of  remuner- 
ation to  its  inventor  and  manufacturers,  as  well  as  a  valuable  ma- 
chine in  the  speedy  preparation  of  our  immense  crops  of  corn  for  the 
market. 

The  Union  Iron  Works  are  owned  by  C.  C.  Burroughs,  James 
Millikin,  John  M.  Flood  and  Charles  Gradweld,  the  latter  two  hav- 
ing become  members  of  the  firm   in  1873. 

DECATUR  BAGGING  CO. 

During  the  summer  of  1875,  the  Decatur  Bagging  Co.  was 
formed,  composed  of  the  following  parties:  Moses  Jerome,  A.  W. 
Conklin  and  D.  S.  Shellaboyer.  Immediately  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company  very  large  and  extensive  buildings  were  erec- 
ted on  the  Toledo,  Wabash  and  Western  Railroad,  in  the  city  of 
Decatur,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  business  in.  These 
buildings,  together  with  the  necessary 'machinery,  engines  and  fix- 
tures, were  erected  at  a  cost  of  over  $50,000.  The  business  of  the 
company  is  the  manufacture  of  but  a  single  article,  viz :  "bagging," 
which  is  used  only  for  covering  cotton  bales.  The  market  for  this 
article  of  manufacture  is  all  points  south  devoted  to  the  culture  of 
cotton. 

In  connection  with  this  manufactory,  and  belonging  to  the  com- 
pany, are  four  tow-mills,  located  as  follows:  Paxton,  Buckle}-,  Ran- 
toul  and  Onarga,  which  cost  about  $55,000.  The  flax  lint  is  man- 
ufactured into  tow  in  these  mills  and  shipped  in  bales  to  the  factory 
here,  where   it   is   spun   and   wove    into     cloth   and   shipped  south. 

—25 


194  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

This    manufactory  requires   the    labor  of  i6o  hantls,  who   are  em- 
ployed winter  and  summer  alike,  one-half  of  whom  are  females,  and 
the  average  pay  of  all  is  $i  per  day.    We  were  pained  to  learn  that 
five-sixths  of  the  raw  material  used  by  this   companv  in  the   manu- 
facture of  its  goods  is  raised  in  other  counties  than  our  own,  so  that, 
while  the  location  of  the  manufactory  is   here  and  the  most  of  the 
employees  are  residents,  which  are  of  great   benefit  to  Decatur  and 
the  county,  it  might  be  made  to  contribute  far  more  to  our  material 
worth,  if  the  farmers  of  the  county  were  to  devote  attention  to  the 
cultivation  of  flax  and  hemp,  so  as  to  supply  the  demands  of  the  fac- 
tory.    If  the  culture  of  the  raw  material   be  a  source  of  income  to 
the  farmers  of  Ford  and    Champaign   counties,  why  may  it  not  be 
to  our  own  people,  especially  when  the  cost  of  transportation  must 
of  necesssity  be  taken  from  the  price  paid  in  those  foreign  counties. 
Besides,   it    is   a   well   attested    fact  that   our  soil,  climate,  etc.,  are 
equally  if  not  better  suited  for  the  successful  cultivation  of  this  ar- 
ticle.    This,  together  with  the  fact  that  hemp  and  flax  are  articles 
of  easy    culture,  very    prolific,   and    will  meet   with  a  home  mar- 
ket, ought  to   stimulate   some  of  our  farmers  to  devote  some  atten- 
tion to    this    article    of  agriculture.     We     are  disposed    to  assert, 
from  an  examination  given  to  this  subject,  that  if  our  farmers  would 
devote  some  part  of  their  farms  to  the  culture  of  hemp  and  flax,  so 
as  to  supply  the    demands  of  the   factory,  it  would  save  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  county  thousands  of  dollars  that  are  annually  expended 
elsewhere,  and   induce   the   bringing   to   this   county  the  tow  mills 
now  erected    in    other   counties,  besides   being  a  source  of  revenue 
and  profit  to  our  own  people. 

The  bagging  factory  is  now  owned  entirely  b}'  Messrs.  A.  W. 
and  C.  A.  Conklin,  who  are  men  of  capital,  energy  and  perseve- 
rance, and  who  are  now  thoroughly  initiated  in  the  business.  We 
have  no  doubt  they  will,  with  their  business  qualifications,  soon 
make  this,  to  us,  new  branch  of  industry  one  of  the  best  paying  in- 
stitutions located  in  our  midst.  The  class  of  persons  furnished  em- 
ployment in  the  factory  though  not  what  are  termed  skilled  me- 
chanics, yet  they  are  of  that  industrious  and  peaceable  sort  who 
otherwise  might  have  difliculty  in  obtaining  employment  or  means 
of  support  for  themselves  and  their  families,  and  whose  earnings 
are  devoted  to  that  purpose  rather  than  indulgence  and  vice,  as  we 
see    among   employees   of   other  manufacturing  institutions.     We 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I95 


have  no  hesitancy  whatever  in  saying  that  the  Decatur  Bagging- 
factory  is  now  one  of  our  most  important  manufacturing  institutions, 
and  one  of  which  Macon  county  ought  to  be  proud,  and  is  destined 
to  be  of  far  greater  importance  to  us. 

It  asks  no  bonus  or  support  from  us  other  than  what  is  to  the  in- 
terest and  profit  of  our  people  to  give,  in  the  way  of  material  fur- 
nished, for  which  a  market  is  made.  Its  owners  are  our  own  citi- 
zens and  of  us  and  expect  to  remain  with  us. 

HA  WORTH  &  SONS. 

"  To  save  time  is  to  lengtlieu  life," 

Is  an  old  saying,  and  as  true  as  it  is  old.  The  object  sought  to  be 
obtained  in  almost  all  of  our  modern  inventions  is  time  and  labor. 
So  with  Haworth's  Check-Rower.  Its  main  object  is  to  save  the 
time  and  labor  of  the  farmer  in  the  corn-planting  season,  when 
every  minute  of  time  saved  is  almost  as  precious  as  minutes  of  gold. 
When  he  is  I'eady  for  planting  his  corn,  every  hour  lost  is  a  propor- 
tionate loss  in  bushels  at  the  ensuing  autumn.  The  check-rower  is 
the  invention  of  George  D.  Haworth,  one  of  the  members  of  the 
firm,  and  was  completed  and  a  patent  obtained  therefor  in  the  vear 
1869.  Valuable  improvements  have  been  added  to  it  from  time  to 
time  since  as  experience  has  dictated,  so  that  farmers  who  under- 
stand and  have  had  the  use  of  this  machine  attach  to  it  a  value 
next  in  importance  to  the  corn-planter  itself.  Upon  level  western 
prairies,  where  the  soil  is  such  that  the  weeds  grow  as  rapidly  as 
the  corn,  and  sprout  and  commence  growing  as  soon  as  the  ground 
is  broken  up,  it  is  found  very  desirable  that  the  corn  should  be 
planted  in  rows  each  way,  and  planted  as  soon  as  possible  after 
the  soil  is  turned  over,  so  that  the  corn  will  have  an  equal  chance 
with  the  weeds  and  grass.  Without  the  use  of  the  check-rower  it 
is  necessary  that  the  entire  piece  of  land,  ten  or  twenty  acres  as  the 
case  may  be,  shall  be  broken  up,  then  it  must  be  marked  oflf  with 
a  marker  so  as  to  make  the  cross  rows,  by  which  it  is  found  that  by 
the  time  the  entire  piece  of  land  is  broken  up  and  crossed  oflT  the 
weeds  are  beginning  to  show  themselves  above  ground  in  the  part 
first  plowed.  But  with  the  check-rower  this  difficulty  is  obviated, 
and  that  too,  even  if  the  farmer  has  but  one  team  to  use. 

But  it  is  useless  to  dilate  upon  the  merits  of  this  machine;  as  such 
it  is  an  invention  of  the  county,  and  of  which   the  people  will   yet 


196  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


more  thoroughly  appreciate.  The  firm  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  this  implement  are  M.  Haworth,  L.  L.  Haworth,  J.  W.  Haworth, 
and  Georgfe  D.  Haworth — father  and  sons.  Thev  were  formerly 
from  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1852,  and  to 
Macon  county  in  1S57.  They  are  all  men  of  energy  and  thorough 
business  qualifications.  They  took  hold  of  this  invention  a  few 
years  since,  and  by  industry  and  perseverance  have  overcome  the 
natural  prejudice  existing  among  the  people  against  all  new  inven- 
tions; so  that  now  increasing  demands  are  coming  from  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Nebraska  and  Texas,  for  it. 

During  the  past  year  the  original  shops,  inachinery  and  facilities 
for  manufacture,  have  been  increased  to  more  than  four  times  their 
original  capacity.  The  value  of  the  real  estate,  shops,  machinery, 
warerooms,  of  the  firm  does  not  probably  vary  far  from  $150,000. 
Thirty-five  men  are  employed  b}'  the  firm.  One  feature  connected 
with  the  manufacture  of  the  check-rower  is  that  every  part  of  the 
machine  is  made  here  in  the  shops,  so  that  there  is  but  a  ver}-  small 
outlay  of  money  by  the  firm  that  Macon  county  does  not  receive 
the  benefit  of.  The  value  of  the  manufactures  of  this  firm  for  the 
year  1S76  will  not  vary  far  from  $200,000. 

ROBERTS,    LYTLE    &    CO. 

This  firm  has  been  in  business  but  three  years,  and  is  comjoosed 
of  the  following  named  gentlemen:  T.  T.  Roberts,  R.  P.  Lytle 
and  O.  Z.  Green.  While  the  articles  manufactured  by  this  firm, 
viz:  wooden  burial  cases  and  caskets,  are  not  pleasant  to  contem- 
plate, and  never  purchased  except  when  painful  necessity  requires, 
yet  in  these  pre-cremation  days  the  demands  therefor  is  steady  and 
constant,  and  unaffected  by  the  fluctuating  influences  operating 
upon  other  articles  of  manufacture.  $40,000  worth  of  burial  cases  are 
annually  manufactured  b}  this  firm,  and  shipped  throughout  Illinois, 
Missouri,  Kansas,  Iowa  and  other  States.  The  lumber  used  is  ob- 
tained from  southern  Illinois,  Michigan  and  Tennessee.  Twenty 
men  are  employed  by  the  firm  the  year  round. 

The  members  of  this  firm  are  all  young  men  of  energy  and  business 
qualifications,  and  their  growing  business  will  soon  create  a  demand 
for  much  larger  works  and  a  greater  investment  of  capital.  Their 
present  grounds,  buildings  and  machinery  cost  in  the  neighborhood 
of  $20,000. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I97 

H.    W.    HILL    &    CO., 
Manufacturers  of  Hardivare  Specialties  and  Hog  Rings  and  Ringers. 

This  firm  is  composed  of  H.  W.  Hill  and  C.  P.  Housum,  and 
commenced  business  in  1S72.  They  were  first  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  H.  W.  Hill's  hog  ringer  and  rings;  and  by  perseve- 
rance and  energy  have  established  a  business  in  that  line  of  work 
exceeding  all  others  combined.  With  their  present  machinery  they 
have  a  capacity  of  manufacturing  140,000  rings  daily,  and  have 
placed  upon  the  market  in  four  years  30,000,000  rings,  consuming 
900  miles  of  wire.  The  market  for  this  article  of  commerce  ex- 
tends from  Maine  to  California  and  Texas,  and  some  goods  have 
been  exported  to  Europe.  The  demand  for  this  device,  manufac- 
tured by  this  firm,  is  increasing  as  its  merits  become  known  by  the 
farming  community.  Over  nine  millions  and  a  half  of  rings  have 
been  sold  during  the  past  year,  which  is  fifty  per  cent,  in  excess  of 
the  sales  the  year  previous. 

The  firm  commenced  business  on  a  limited  capital,  and  under 
disadvantages  arising  from  imperfect  machinery,  or  rather  no  ma- 
chinery at  all ;  from  prejudices  naturally  existing  against  all  new 
and  valuable  improvements,  and  have  been  harrassed  by  litigations 
in  reference  to  patents,  almost  without  number.  But  notwithstand- 
ing these  obstacles,  they  have  by  business  tact  and  energy  over- 
come them,  and  now  constitute  one  of  the  substantial  and  securely 
established  manufiicturing  institutions  of  which  we  may  well  feel 
proud,  and  have  a  capital  of  $30,000  invested.  They  also  manu- 
facture, to  a  considerable  extent,  corn-huskers,  ladles,  etc.,  which 
are  inventions  of  the  firm.  They  also  have  in  connection  with 
their  business  a  printing  otfice,  by  which  they  are  enabled  to  do  all 
their  own  printing  and  advertising. 

H.  W.  Hill,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  is  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Macon  county  about  1 1  years. 

Charles  P.  Housum,  the  junior  member,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  Macon  county  about  1 1  years. 

The  reputation  of  Decatur  as  a  manufacturing  city  and  railroad 
center  has  been  largely  increased  thi-ough  the  extensive  advertising 
done  by  the  firm.  About  three  tons  of  advertising  matter  are  an- 
nually distributed  to  all  parts  of  the  United  States  by  them. 


198  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


CHAMBERS,    BEHRING    &    QUINLAN. 

Manufacturers  of  Champion  Hog  Ringer^   Rings  and  Holder^  Eaglebill  Corn 
Husker^  and  Barms'    Wire  Check- Reiver. 

The  firm  of  Chambers  &  Quinlan  was  formed  in  the  spring  of 
1875,  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  the  Champion  Hog  Ringer, 
Rings  and  Holder.  By  their  perseverance  and  devotion  to  the 
manufacture  of  their  articles,  they  have  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
business  that  is  growing  and  permanent;  so  that  they  in  Dec.  1S76, 
associated  with  them  Mr.  J.  Ed.  Behring,  as  a  partner,  and  exten- 
ded the  list  of  articles  manufactui'ed  by  them,  and  are  now  manu- 
facturing the  Eagle-bill  Corn-Husker,  Barnes'  Wire  Check-Rower, 
and  Brown's  Hog  Ringer  and  Rings. 

We  have  no  space  to  enter  into  an  examination  of  the  merits  of 
the  various  articles  manufactured  by  the  firm.  It  will  be  seen  that 
all  the  articles  are  intended  to  meet  the  demands  of  our  farming 
communitv.  The  Champion  hog  ringer  and  rings  made  b\'  the 
firm  is  the  only  invention  of  the  kind  in  use.  The  ring  is  a  double 
ring  and  is  said  to  have  advantages  over  the  single  ring.  It  is  suf- 
ficient to  say  that  this  article  is  found  upon  the  shelves  of  hardware 
dealers  throughout  the  United  States,  and  is  being  introduced  in 
Europe. 

The  Barnes'  check-rower,  made  by  this  firm,  has  only  been  upt)n 
the  market  for  a  short  time,  and  its  merits  not  fully  understood. 
The  advantages  claimed  for  it  are,  durabilit}-;  that  it  will  not  con- 
tract or  extend;  no  side  draft;  convenience  in  use,  and  adaptability 
to  all  planters. 

The  firm  employs  on  an  average  about  14  hands,  and  occupies 
the  old  agricultural  shops. 

The  members  of  this,  firm  are  thorough  business  men.  Mr. 
Chambers  is  now  (1876)  mayor  of  the  city  of  Decatur,  and  Mr. 
Quinlan  is  an  old  and  respected  citizen  of  the  county. 

W.    &    B.    SAWYER. 
lAnseed  Oil  and  Oil  Cake. 

The  oil  mill  of  this  firm  was  put  in  operation  in  1867,  and  with 
the  additions  made  since,  including  machinery,  is  valued  at  $30,000, 
There  are  $75,000  worth  of   oil  and  cake  annually  manufactured, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  I99 

the  principal  markets  for  which  are  St.  Louis  and  New  York.  A 
large  proportion  of  the  oil  cake  is  exported  to  Europe.  They 
also  have  a  retail  trade  extending  throughout  Illinois,  Indiana  and 
Missouri.  The  number  of  men  employed  by  the  firm  is  13.  The 
flax  seed  consumed  by  the  mill  averages  about  50  thousand  bushels 
per  annum,  and  is  principally  raised  in  Southern  Illinois,  for 
which  $1,40  to  $1,50  per  bushel  is  paid. 

The  firm  is  composed  of  William  Sawyer  and  Benjamin  Saw- 
yer. The  latter  has  been  a  resident  of  Macon  County  since  1S36, 
and  the  former  since  1S67.  Of  the  business  qualifications  of  the 
firm  nothing  need  be  said.  It  is  a  straightforward  business  firm; 
energetic  and  i-esponsible. 

BOYD,    HASKELL    &    CO. 

"  Decatur    Woolen  Mills. " 

This  is  among  the  oldest  existing  manufacturing  institutions  of 
the  County,  having  been  established  in  1859,  by  the  present  firm 
composed  of  the  following  persons,  viz:  Wm.  H.  Boyd,  L.  C. 
Haskell  and  W.  J.  Myers.  The  principal  goods  manufactured 
are  flannels,  yarns,  blankets,  jeans,  and,  also,  card  and  spin.  The 
wool  used  by  the  firm  is  procured  from  Macon  and  adjoining 
counties  entirely,  and  the  products  of  the  factory  are  sold  through- 
out Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Michigan  and  Indiana;  amounting 
annually  to  about  $75,000  in  value. 

In  1 868  the  mills  we're  destroyed  by  fire,  but  were  immediately 
rebuilt.  The  value  of  mills,  including  machinery,  is  not  far  from 
$30,000.  The  firm  are  thoroughly  initiated  in  all  the  details  of 
the  business,  and  are  sound  business  men,  and  have  in  their  employ 
about  25  persons  the  year  round. 

Prior  to  their  engaging  in  this  business  here  in  1859,  Mr.  Boyd 
was  a  resident  of  Maryland,  Mr.  Haskell  of  New  York,  and  Mr. 
Myei's  of  Pennsylvania.  The  latter  has  been  an  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council. 

This  firm,  but  with  little  attempt  at  show  or  display,  has  been,  and 
continues  to  be,  engaged  in  a  department  of  manufacture  that 
Macon  County  could  illy  afford  to  be  without. 


200  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY, 

PETER  LOEK. 
Manufacturer  of  Agricultural  and  Gray  Iron  Castings. 

Mr.  L.  erected  his  shops  and  foundry  in  the  summer  of  1876,  and 
is  a  man  of  twenty  years  experience  in  his  Hne  of  business.  He 
has  on  an  average  ten  men  in  his  employment  since  ready  for  busi- 
ness. He  says  with  the  patronage  thus  far  received,  and  the  facih- 
ties  he  has,  he  will  in  a  short  time  more  than  double  his  present 
amount  of  business,  which  he  estimates  for  1876  at  $15,000.  The 
necessity  for  a  foundry  of  the  character  of  Mr.  L's.,  of  course  can 
not  be  denied.  Our  farmers  annually  expend  thousands  of  dollars 
for  the  repairs  of  machinery  ordered  at  Cincinnati,  Pittsburg  and 
elsewhere,  which  might  just  as  well  be  expended  at  home.  Loss  of 
time  and  the  freights  in  the  shipment  should  be  considered  and 
would  be  no  small  items  in  the  aggregate. 

II.   MUELLER  &  CO. 

Manufacturers  of  Water  Main  Tappers.,  Toy  Pistols,  Gunsmithing  and  General 

Repairing  of  Machinery. 

This  firm  has  been  in  business  since  April,  1874,  the  senior  mem- 
ber having  carried  on  a  gunsmith  and  general  repairing  shop  for 
a  great  many  years.  He  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  his  busi- 
ness in  all  of  its  branches,  and  the  firm  is  wide  awake  and  thorough- 
ly energetic  in  all  things  pertaining  to  their  line  of  work.  Their 
annual  manufactures  will  run  from  twelve  to  fifteen  thousand  dol- 
lars per  annum,  and  the  monthly  pay-roll  will  not  fall  short  of  nine 
men.  Their  business  is  increasing,  and  their  shops,  machinery, 
etc.,  speak  well  for  the  present  and  future.  The  water  main  tap- 
per made  by  the  firm  is  an  ingenious  and  very  simple  invention, 
perfected  and  patented  by  H.  Mueller. 

KRAMER  &  MCCLELLAND. 

Manufacturers  of  Road.,  Spritig  and  Lumber  Wagons  Carriages  and  Buggies. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  firms,  if  not  the  oldest  in  the  county, 
having  been  established  in  1S54.  Each  member  of  the  firm  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  county  since  1853.     The   firm    has   a   capital 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  20I 

invested  of  $10,000,  and  their  annual  manufacture  aggregates  in 
the  neighborhood  of  that  amount.  Their  wagons,  etc.,  find  a  mar- 
ket in  this  and  adjoining  counties,  and  some  are  shipped  to  Indiana 
and  New  Mexico.  Their  work,  as  thousands  of  tlieir  customers 
can  verify,  is  of  the  most  substantial  character,  as  well  as  orna- 
mental, and  needs  no  commendation.  They  make  a  specialty  of 
"Jump  seats  and  Greencastle  bodies." 

WAYNE   BROS. 

This  firm  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  carriages,  buggies 
and  spring  wagons,  and  also  do  a  large  repairing  business.  The 
members  of  the  firm  are,  John  B.  and  Wni.  J.  Wayne.  They  are 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  have  been  residents  of  Illinois  for 
about  35  years,  and  of  Macon  county  four  years.  Each  of  the  firm 
is  thoroughly  conversant  with  all  the  minutiae  of  the  business. 
Their  average  annual  manufacture  of  vehicles  of  various  kinds  ag- 
eresrate  $20,000,  the  most  of  which  is  sold  to  home  customers; 
some  goods,  however,  are  shipped  to  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Texas. 
The  material  used  by  the  firm  is  obtained  in  the  eastern  markets, 
and  is  selected  with  the  greatest  of  care.  The  carriages  and  bug- 
gies made  are  substantial  and  well  built,  and  this  firm  has  turned 
oat  some. of  the  finest  work  in  Central  Illinois.  They  have  in  their 
employ  about  20  of  the  most  skillful  mechanics,  in  the  different  de- 
partments of  their  work. 

D.  S.   SHEI.LABARGER. 

Flour  Alills. 

This  firm  commenced  business  in  Decatur  in  1862,  and  is  corti- 
posed  of  D.  S.  Shellabarger,  John  B.  Shellabarger  and  Wm.  Bow- 
ers, though  we  believe  some  changes  have  been  made  in  the  firm 
in  that  time.  Each  member  of  the  firm  is  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  flouring  business  in  all  its  departments.  The  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  has  been  mayor  of  the  city,  as  well  as  alderman. 
They  have  a  capital  invested  in  the  milling  business,  consisting  of 
real  estate,  machinery,  etc.,  of  $35,000.  The  average  annual  value 
of  manufactures  will  run  from  $175,000  to  $200,000.  They  have 
in  their  employ  eight  men,  and  their  principal  market  is  Macon 
county  and  surrounding  country. 

—26 


202  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


GEO,  PRIEST  (t  CO. 

Flotir  Mills. 

One  of  the  oldest  flour  mills  in  the  county  is  that  of  Geo.  Priest 
&  Co.  The  firm  is  now  composed  of  Geo.  Priest  and  A.  N.  Deal, 
both  of  whom  are  thoroughly  initiated  in  all  the  departments  of 
their  business.  They  ha^■e  a  capital  invested  in  the  business  of 
about  $33,000,  and  the  annual  product  of  flour,  etc.,  manufactured 
amounting  to  $150,000,  requiring  the  labor  of  eight  men.  Their 
business  extends  throughout  the  county  and  along  the  railroad  lines 
leading  from  Decatur. 

GREENFIELD,  BELL  &  CO. 

Flovr  Mills. 

This  mill  has  been  in  operation  about  eight  years,  and  has  an 
investment  of  $20,000  in  real  estate,  buildings  and  machinery,  with 
a  capacity  of  producing  annually  11,000  barrels  of  flour,  employing 
six  men,  and  has  a  trade  extending  in  almost  every  direction  within 
a  radius  of  thirty  to  forty  miles  from  Decatur.  The  members  of 
this  firm  are  old  residents  of  Macon  county,  Mr.  Bell  having  been 
born  here,  and  Mr.  Greenfield  came  at  a  very  early  day. 

HARPSTRITE  &  SCHLANDEMAN. 

Manufactn rers  of  Beer. 

This  firm  began  business  in  1S62,  in  Decatur.  The  members  of 
the  firm  are  Edward  Harpstrite,  who  came  from  Clinton  county  in 
1855,  and  Henry  Schlandeman,  who  came  from  Logansport,  Ind., 
in  1856.  They  have  an  investment  of  $60,000  in  their  business,  and 
their  annual  manufactures  amount  to  about  $40,000,  which  finds  a 
market  in  Macon  and  adjoining  counties.  They  annually  consume 
about  10,000  bushels  of  barley,  for  which  they  pay  on  an  average 
ninety  cents  per  bushel,  which  is  shipped  to  them  from  Kansas, 
Nebraska  and  Minnesota.  Their  hops  are  obtained  from  New 
York.     Ten  men  are  in  the  employ  of  the  firm. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


203 


FERRIS    *  EMMONS. 

Alatiufacturers  of  and  Dealers  in  Litbricating  and  Illuminating 
Oils  and  Axle  Grease^  and  Dealers  in  Animal  Oils. 

This  firm  was  organized  in  1S75,  The  members  of  the  firm  are 
W.  P.  Ferris,  who  came  to  Macon  county  in  1871,  and  was  en- 
gaged until  1S75  as  conductor  on  the  T.,  W.  and  W.  R.  R,  G. 
W.  Emmons  came  to  Macon  county  in  1870,  and  was  conductor 
on  the  above  road  until  1874.  Mr.  F.  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  Mr.  E.  of  New  HamjDshire.  The  annual  sales  of  goods  man- 
ufactured and  on  sale,  are  $100,000  per  annum.  Number  of  men 
employed  by  firm,  six.  Principle  market  for  goods,  Illinois,  and  some 
have  been  shipped  to  Kansas.  The  carbon  oil  used  by  this  firm  is 
shipped  in  large  iron  tanks  made  expressly  for  the  purpose,  and 
transferred  directly  from  the  tanks  bv  means  of  siphons  to  the  tanks 
of  the  firm,  which  have  a  capacity  of  8,000  gallons.  From  these 
tanks  the  oil  is  transferred  to  the  barrels  for  disti'ibution. 

ELWOOD    &    CO. 

Alantifacturcrs  of  Doors.,  Sas/i,  Blinds,  etc. 

This  firm  was  organized  in  1S65;  the  Messrs.  Elwood  having 
been  residents  of  the  county  for  22  years.  They  have  a  cash 
capital  invested  in  this  county  of  about  $40,000,  and  have  been 
doing  a  large  and  increasing  business  in  their  line  since  they  came 
to  Decatur.  They  own  large  pineries  in  Michigan,  which  are 
under  the  charge  of  D.  Elwood,  one  of  the  members  of  the  firm, 
from  which  they  obtain  the  pi-incipal  part  of  their  lumber.  The 
annual  average  manufactures  of  the  firin  amount  to  $40,000,  and 
from  33  to  25  men  are  employed  by  them.  The  firm  manufactures 
and  sells  about  two  million  feet  of  lumber  per  annum,  which  finds 
a  market  in  Macon  and  adjoining  counties. 


204  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


RAILROADS.* 


A  history  of  the  raih-oad  interests  of  the  State,  would  be  a 
volume  of  itself,  and  not  devoid  of  interest. 

From  the  introduction  of  railroads  in  this  country,  Illinois  has 
been  destined  to  be  a  railroad    State.     The   foresight   of  Hon.  Ste- 

NoTE. — The  first  successful  locomotive  steam  engine  in  the  world  was  in- 
vented by  George  Stephenson,  and  is  still  preserved  at  Darlington,  England. 
Prior  to  its  invention  Mr.  S.  was  regarded  as  "the  craziest  man  in  all  En"-- 
land,"  but  after  its  successful  operation,  on  its  trial  trip  he  was  regarded  as  "the 
smartest  man  in  all  England  and  in  all  the  world."  The  first  railroad  and  upon 
Avhich  this  engine  ran,  was  completed  from  Stockton  to  Darlington,  England, 
Sept.  27,  1825.  The  project  of  Stephenson  was  ridiculed  in  parliament,  and  a 
large  concourse  of  people  gathered  upon  the  occasion  of  the  trial  to  ridicule 
the  "insane  "  Stephenson.  The  engine  was  attached  to  a  train  of  34  coal 
wagons  and  coaches,  which  were  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary  old-fashioned 
stage  coach.  The  passengers  took  their  places  in  the  coaches,  and  a  man  on 
horseback  took  his  position  in  front  of  the  engine  to  herald  the  approach  of  the 
coming  train  !  The  signal  for  starting  was  given,  and  the  Engine  started  oft"  with 
the  cars  like  a  "thing  of  life."  The  gentleman  who  was  to  ride  on  horseback  in 
front  of  the  train  to  announce  its  coming,  soon  found  it  convenient  to  "  look 
out  for  the  cars,"  and  left  the  track  in  disgust!  -The  ridiculing  spectators  who 
were  left  behind,  were  in  a  ridiculous  state  of  mind  at  the  unexpected  success- 
ful working  of  the  crazy  man's  engine.  The  journey  was  completed  at  the 
f^peed  of  15  miles  an  hour,  and  from  that  time  since  the  name  of  George  Ste- 
phenson has  been  written  high  upon  the  scale  of  the  world's  benefactors. 

In  1831  a  railroad  was  completed  from  Albany  to  Schenectady,  New  York, 
a  distance  of  16  miles,  which  was  among  the  first  roads  upon  which  a  train 
of  cars  were  propelled  by  steam  in  America,  and  took  place  the  year  the  road 
was  finished.  The  trains  upon  this  road,  however,  ran  very  slowly  The  road 
ran  over  hills  and  down  into  the  valleys,  so  that  it  was  necessary  to  draw 
the  trains  up  acclivities,  in  places,  by  stationary-  engines.  The  first  engine 
upon  this  road  was  the  "John  Bull,"  which  was  made  in  England,  and 
weighed  four  tons.  The  venerable  Thurlow  Weed  was  among  the  15  passen- 
gers upon  the  first  train  of  passenger  cars  propelled  by  steam.  But  little  did  he 
suspect  on  the  morning  of  that  excursion  that  in  much  less  than  half  a  century 
he  would  behold  trains  running  through  that  Mohawk  valley  at  the  rate  of  40 
and  50  miles  an  hour,  and  still  others  bearing  freight  si^fficient  in  value  to 
have  paid  for  the  entire  Mohawk  «.^^  Hudson  Railroad,  with  its  equipment. 
One  of  Stephenson's  engines  was  put  upon  a  road  constructed  by  the  Dela- 
ware and  Hudson  Canal  Co.,  from  their  coal  mines  to  Honesdale,  in  1829,  but 
it  was  not  used  for  passenger  traffic  to  any  great  extent,  if  at  all. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  205 

phen  A.  Douglas  in  getting  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  construc- 
ted from  Cairo  to  Chicago  and  Dunleith,  has  resulted  in  incalcula- 
ble benefit  in  opening  up  the  fertile  prairies  of  Illinois  to  cultivation. 
He  lived  long  enough  to  see  his  expectations  more  than  realized, 
and  his  predictions  fully  met.  The  early  railway  legislation  of  this 
State  fully  manifests  the  popular  feeling  as  to  the  necessity  of  some 
means  for  the  transportation  of  our  grain  and  herds  of  cattle  and 
hogs.  The  means  of  attaining  the  requisite  railways,  however, 
were  matters  of  serious  consideration,  and  of  no  well-defined  opin- 
ion. One  crude  idea  that  seems  to  have  pervaded  the  entire  legis- 
lature in  1835-6-7,  was  that  these  great  highways  of  commerce 
might  be  legislated  into  existence;  hence  it  was  that  in  those  years 
there  were  enacted  that  gigantic  enterprise  that  has  since  been 
known  as  the  internal  improvement  scheme.  It  had  for  its  object 
the  construction  of  canals  and  railways,  branching  out  to  almost  all 
parts  of  the  country;  all  to  be  built  and  owned  by  the  State;  the 
construction  of  one-half  of  which  would  have  bankrupted  Illinois 
beyond  all  hopes  of  recovery. 

It  was  a  gigantic  undertaking  without  any  means  of  accomplish- 
ing. It  was  a  brilliant  idea,  w^ithout  any  sort  of  conception  as  to  the 
requisite  amount  of  capital  to  give  it  practical  shape  and  direction. 
It  was  akin  to  that  other  idea,  and  had  about  as  much  consistency 
in  it,  by  which  the  fellow  undertook  to  jump  across  the  Mississippi 
by  taking  hold  of  his  boot  straps.  The  whole  internal  improve- 
ment scheme  collapsed  with  the  financial  panic  of  1837.  Several 
millions  of  dollars  were  appropriated  from  the  treasury  and  ex- 
pended with  scarcely  a  dollar  to  show  therefor  except  a  few  em- 
bankments in  difierent  parts  of  the  State.  Among  the  projected 
lines  of  railway  under  which  work  was  commenced  under  the 
improvement  system  was  that  of  the  Northern  Cross  Railroad, 
chartered  in  1S37,  running  from  Quincy  to  Danville  and  the  State 
line.  The  first  locomotive  engine  that  ever  ran  in  Illinois  was 
placed  upon  this  road,  and  ran  through  from  Meredosia  to  Jackson- 
ville, perhaps  in  the  winter  of  1838-9. 

The  above  road  was  completed  through  to  Springfield  from 
Jacksonville  in  1843,  and  the  cars  made  three  trips  to  the  Illinois 
river  every  week;  which  feat  is  spoken  of  by  the  journals  of  that 
day  as  wonderful!  This  road  was  constructed  by  nailing  flat  pieces 
of  iron  upon   long  pieces  of  timber,  running   lengthwise   with  the 


2o6  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


road.  The  road,  however,  had  not  been  in  use  long  before  the 
track  became  uneven  and  rough,  and  the  engine  was  so  out  of  re- 
pair that  it  had  to  be  taken  off  the  road,  and  the  cars  were  then 
propelled  by  mules!  This  process  of  locomotion  finally  became 
unendurable,  and  the  whole  road  was  sold  by  the  State  for  a  mere 
nominal  consideration.  We  mention  these  facts,  as  thev  constitute  the 
first  railroad  experience  of  Illinois;  and  also  for  the  reason  that  the 
Northern  Cross  Railroad  formed  a  part  of  the  line,  which,  after 
various  consolidations,  became  the 


This,  though  built  under  a  different  name,  was  the  first  railroad 
that  was  constructed  through  the  county  of  Macon.  From  the 
time  its  cars  ran  into  Decatur  in  April,  1854,  commences  the  rapid 
improvement  and  almost  unexampled  prosperity  of  our  county.  At 
that  date  commences  the  real  history  of  our  agricultural  and  com- 
mercial ad^'ancement.  Then  all  the  stock  in  trade  of  all  the  mer- 
chants in  the  county  would  have  made  but  a  few  dray  loads.  From 
that  period  hog  drovers  became  scarce.  Thenceforward  those  old- 
fashioned,  broad-tyred  Virginia  wagons,  with  their  inevitable 
accompaniments — the  two  dogs  and  a  tar  bucket — ceased  to  be  vehi- 
cles transporting  our  dry-goods  and  groceries  from  St.  Louis  and 
Chicago.  Their  owners,  who  had  hitherto  made  the  principal  part 
of  their  living  by  "wagoning,"  looked  upon  the  construction  of 
the  railroads  with  an  eye  of  suspicion,  and  regarded  it  as  an  inter- 
ference, to  some  extent  at  least,  with  "  vested  rights."  Other  ob- 
jections were  urged  against  the  construction  of  railroads,  that  to  us 
in  this  day  would  seem  laughable  indeed;  among  others  it  was 
urged  that  the  whistling  of  the  engines  and  noise  of  the  cars  would 
drive  away  all  the  game!  Others  said  the  ranges  would  all  be  des- 
troyed, and  poor  people  would  have  to  keep  their  cattle  and  hogs 
enclosed. 

The  T.,  W.  &  W.  R.  R.  has  been  one  of  the  two  roads  that  has 
been  largely  instrumental  in  making  our  county  what  it  is.  To 
our  merchants  and  our  farmers  who  ship  stock  and  grain  east,  this 
road  has  been  of  incalculable  value. 

*  We  understand  that  after  January,    1877,   ^^e    name  of  this  road  is  to  be 
changed  to  the  Wabash  Railway. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY,  207 


The  length  of  the  road  is  as  follows: 

Main  line  from  Toledo  to  Quincy 473  miles. 

St.  Louis  Division  (from  Decatur  to  E.  St.  Louis) no       " 

Keokuk  Branch 41        " 

Naples  Branch 3       " 

Total 627       » 

Of  these  627  miles  there  arc  in  Illinois  7^S6  miles. 

The  annual  shipments  forwarded  hy  this  line  will  average  from 
350  to  400  thousand  dollars,  and  the  annual  receipts  are  ahout  one 
hundred  an.l  twenty  thousand  dollars  from  Decatur  station,  as 
shown  by  the  books  of  the  company.  The  passenger  traffic  from 
Decatur  varies  between  90  and  100  thousand  dollars.  The  pay- 
roll for  men  employed  in  Decatur,  runs  between  five  and  six  thou- 
sand dollars  per  month. 

THE    ILLINOIS    CENTRAL    RAILROAD. 

In  September,  1S50,  an  act  of  Congress  was  passed  granting 
lands  to  the  State  of  Illinois  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  rail- 
road throujjh  Central  Illinois.  The  legislature  of  Illinois  in  1S51 
incorporated  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  the  lands  held  in 
trust  by  the  State  were  transferred  to  the  company  upon  a  compli- 
ance with  the  conditions  of  the  charter.  The  road  was  completed 
through  Macon  county  in  1854,  from  the  north,  and  the  entire  line 
soon  thereafter  opened  to  the  public. 

The  procurement  of  aid  from  the  general  government,  by  the 
donation  of  lands,  was  a  subject  that  the  people  of  the  county  had 
taken  an  interest  in  for  several  years  prior  to  the  passage  of  the  act. 
It  became  a  question  in  the  election  of  representatives  to  the  legis- 
lature, and  was  made  one.  of  the  issues  of  the  campaign  of  1S48. 
It  is  said  that  a  senator  from  Macon  county  was  the  first  to  intro- 
duce and  secure  the  passage  of  a  resolution  by  the  legislature  re- 
questing and  urging  our  senators  and  representatives  in  congress  to 
secure  the  desired  aid  from  the  s'eneral  grovernment.  As  elsewhere 
remarked,  Senator  Douglas,  who  was  always  alive  to  anything  that 
had  for  its  object  the  improvement  of  the  State,  and  the  benefit 
of  our  people;  acting  upon  the  resolution,  secured  the  passage  of 
the  law,  donating  to  the  State  for  the  use  of  the  railroad,  every 
alternate  section  for  the  distance  of  six  miles  upon  each  side  of  the 
proposed  line. 


2o8  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


There  was  some  little  apprehension  existing  for  a  while  in  refer- 
ence to  the  location  of  the  road  through  the  county.  An  effort 
was  made  to  locate  the  road  six  miles  west  of  Decatur,  crossing  the 
river  at  what  was,  in  early  days,  known  as  the  "  cut-off,"  and  a 
survey  upon  this  line  was  made,  but  through  the  exertions  of  Hon. 
E.  O.  Smith  and  other  citizens  of  Decatur,  the  "  cut-off  route"  was 
abandoned,  and  the  present  route  selected,  though  said  by  the  en- 
gineer, Chas.  A.  Tuttle,  to  be  more  expensive. 

This  road,  by  judicious  management,  and  the  capital  derived 
from  the  sale  of  its  lands,  has  always  been  upon  a  sound  financial 
basis.  Its  treatment  of  its  patrons  has  been  such  as  to  call  for  no 
great  amount  of  complaint,  for  want  of  equipment  or  means  and 
proper  facilities  for  transportation.  Its  management  has  been  such 
that  but  rarely  are  suits  brought  for  the  recovery  of  damages  for 
negligence  on  the  part  of  its  agents. 

The  passenger  cars  upon  the  road  have  never  been  remarkable 
for  their  costliness  or  splendor  of  their  appointments;  yet  are 
usually  substantial,  safe,  and  have  all  the  necessaries  for  ease  and 
comfort.  Its  employees  have  been  well  paid  and  selected  with 
reference  to  their  qualifications  and  abilities.  Engineers,  conduct- 
ors and  agents,  who  were  in  the  employment  of  the  company  in 
1854,  still  hold  their  positions. 

There  are  705  miles  of  road  in  Illinois,  under  the  management 
of  this  company,  distributed  as  follows: 

Main  line  (Cairo  to  Dunleith) 455  "''il^s- 

Chicago  branch  (Centralia  to  Chicago) 250       " 

By  an  arrangement  recently  consummated  this  company  has  now 
the  control  of  a  road  extending  to  New  Orleans,  from  Cairo,  ma- 
kino-   an   entire   line   from   either   Sioux    Citv    or   Chicago  to  New 

Orleans. 

The  average  annual  shipment  forwarded  by  this  road  from  De- 
catur, amounts  to  $25,000;  and  the  receipts  will  double  that  amount, 
as  shown  by  the  books  of  the  company.  The  ticket  sales  at  the 
Decatur  ofhce  do  not  vary  far  from  $20,000  annually. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 


209 


DECATUR  AND  EAST  ST.   LOUIS  RAILROAD. 

This  road  was  chartered  in  1867  and  built  in  1S68,  under  the 
management  of  the  T.,  W.  &  W.  R.  R.,  and  has  since  been  un- 
der the  control  of  that  road.  It  runs  to  East  St,  Louis,  a  distance  of 
108  miles,  and  since  the  construction  of  the  great  bridge  across  the 
Mississippi  its  trains  run  into  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  This  road  is 
regarded  as  one  of  our  best  and  most  important  roads,  and  should 
it  be  extended  to  Chicago,  as  it  was  intended  that  it  should  be,  it 
will  be  second  to  none  as  a  means  of  furnishing  transportation  to 
the  markets  for  our  producing  people.  When  we  have  a  direct 
outlet  to  both  Chicago  and  St.  Louis — the  great  cities  of  the  south- 
west— then  our  railroad  facilities  will  be  most  ample  and  complete. 
We  sought  to  accomplish  this  by  means  of  the 

DECATUR  AND  STATE   LINE  RAILROAD, 

the  charter  for  which  was  more  than  once  defeated  by  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Co.  It  is  asserted  by  some  of  our  best  informed  citizens 
that  the  construction  of  this  road  after  the  charter  had  been  obtain- 
ed was  defeated  through  manipulations  originating  from  the  same 
source.  We  do  not  know  where  the  blame  lies  for  the  loss  to  the 
people  of  this  county  of  this  very  important  road,  but  whoever  was 
instrumental  in  it  has  a  conscience  inimical  to  the  public  interests 
of  Macon  county.  The  road  was  important;  the  subscriptions 
along  the  line  were  sutficient  for  its  construction ;  it  was  under  con- 
tract and  partially  built;  and  Decatur  six  years  ago  anticipated  soon 
being  the  principal  city  on  the  shortest  line  of  road  through  the 
most  fertile  portions  of  the  state,  between  ///e  cities  of  the  northwest, 
but  awoke  one  morning  and  found  the  work  suspended  and  the 
jDeople  along  the  entire  line  dumbfounded,  like  the  workmen  at  the 
tower  of  Babel.      But  why,  the  author  is  unable  to  state. 

PEKIN,  LINCOLN   AND  DECATUR  RAILROAD. 

This  road  was  chartei'ed  in  1861,  and  the  charter  amended  in 
1865,  and  constructed  in  1871.  It  is  67  miles  in  length,  and  was 
leased  by  the  T.,  W.  &  W.  R.  R.  Co.  at  its  completion,  and  has 
been  under  its  management  until  1S76.  It  extends  from  Decatur  to 
Pekin  on  the  Illinois  river,  but  its  trains  run  through  to  Peoria. 
—27 


2IO  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY, 


THE    DECATUR,  MONTICELLO  AND  CHAMPAIGN   R.  R. 

This  road  was  constructed  in  the  year  1873,  and  extends  to 
Champaign,  111.,  where  it  connects  with  the  branch  of  the  I.  C.  R. 
R.,  north,  and  the  I.,  B.  &  W.  R.  R.,  east.  It  is  now  consolida- 
ted with  the  latter  road,  and  is  known  as  the  Decatur  branch  of 
the  Indianapolis,  Bloomington  &  Western.  It  secures  to  us  com- 
petition for  eastern  transportation. 

DECATUR,  SULLIVAN   AND  MATTOON  R.  R. 

This  road  waschartered  in  iS6i,and  constructed  in  1872,  and  ex- 
tends to  Mattoon,  111.  It  was  intended  that  this  road  should  be  ex- 
tended through  to  Grayville,  on  the  Ohio  river,  securing  to  us  a 
southeastern  travel  and  transportation  but  financial  embarrassments 
have  prevented  its  construction  farther  than  Mattoon. 

ILLINOIS   MIDLAND  R.  R. 

This  is  a  consolidation  of  the  Peoria,  Atlanta  &  Decatur  and 
Paris  &  Decatur  Railroads.  The  road  was  constructed  in  1S72. 
Its  line  extends  from  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  to  Peoria,  111. 

Entire  length 1 76  miles. 

Entire  length  in  Illinois 168  miles. 

INDIANAPOLIS,  DECATUR   AND^SPRINGFIELD  R.   R. 

This  road  was  chartered  in  1S50  as  the  Indiana  &  Illinois  Cen- 
tral R.  R.,  but  w^as  not  constructed  until  1872,  and  then  finished 
only  to  Montezuma,  on  the  Wabash.  It  is  thought  that  it  will 
shortly  be  constructed  through  to  Indianapolis,  and  when  done  will 
be  one  of  our  most  important  roads.  The  name  was  changed  in 
1876. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  211 


AGRICULTURE. 


This  is  the  oldest  branch  of  industry.  It  needs  no  words  of  com- 
mendation. Those  who  engage  in  tilHng  the  soil  form  a  large  and 
very  important  element  in  society— a  necessary  element,  and  one 
just  as  dignified,  when  duly  appreciated,  as  any  of  the  others.  In 
character,  influence  and  relative  position  the  agricultural  class  is 
what  its  members  make  it.  It  is  high  or  low,  as  its  masses  are  en- 
ergetic, educated  and  skilled.  In  some  localities  the  sun  seems  to 
be  always  shining.  The  farmers  are  busy  the  year  round.  Their 
farms  are  neat  and  well  fenced.  Their  barns  and  outhouses  are 
painted  and  in  perfect  repair.  They  have  reapers,  mowers,  corn 
planters  and  all  the  modern  improvements  in  the  art.  The  dwel- 
lings are  neat  and  comfortable,  and  their  occupants  seem  always 
cheerful,  and  are  intelligent,  refined,  social,  industrious,  and  are 
always  glad  to  have  you  come  and  see  them.  This  is  what  people 
call  "a  good  neighborhood  to  live  in,"  "a  good  farming  commu- 
nity," etc.,  etc. 

There  is  another  community,  sometimes  but  a  few  miles  distant, 
occupying  a  position  at  the  other  extreme.  There  seems  to  be 
always  a  cloud  over  it.  It  is  hedged  in  and  about  with  ennui  and 
lassitude  and  laziness  of  the  most  reckless  sort.  The  fields  are 
haggard  and  torn  and  lacerated,  and  seem  to  have  been  cultivated 
in  a  haphazard  sort  of  a  way  without  reference  to  the  points  of  the 
compass.  The  fences  are  racked  and  partially  down,  and  where 
standing  seem  to  cling  to  the  shrubs  and  trees  for  support.  The 
plows,  reapers  and  mowers  stand  in  the  field,  as  they  were  left 
when  last  used.  The  farm  house  is  in  the  last  stages  of  decay,  and 
ready  to  tumble  down  upon  the  slightest  provocation.  Its  doors 
are  old  and  weatherbeaten  and  fasten  with  a  latch  and  strintj.  The 
windows  are  dilapidated  and  pretty  well  filled  up  with  hats  of 
ancient  date  or  pillows  sable  and  dusky  hued.  The  inmates  are 
living  specimens  of  inertia,  dejected  and  downhearted,  whose  whole 
travel  seems  to  have  been  over  stony  roads.    They  have  a  corduroy 


2t2  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY 


look  about  them,  as  though  they  had  spent  many  weary  nights  in 
pondering  over  Mark  Twain's  Roughing  It.  The  head  of  the 
household  trudges  about  with  one  boot  and  one  shoe  and  a  sino-le 
'suspender,  as  though  he  was  continually  weighing  in  his  mind 
the  question  whether  he  ought  or  ought  not  to.  His  "old  woman" 
— that  is  his  wife — poor  soul,  does  as  well  as  she  can,  endures  all, 
works  hard  and  dies  young,  an  object  of  pity  and  neglect.  The 
children,  a  half  dozen  or  more,  grow  up  in  rags  and  penury,  half 
starved,  half  clothed,  half  educated  and  sore-eyed,  and  are  contin- 
ually knocked  and  buffeted  about  in  the  world,  and  pricked  and 
stung  by  the  ragged  edges  of  poverty.  The  barn  is  a  cross  be-  ' 
tween  a  rail  pen  and  a  "straw-stack,"  and  is  "fearfully  and  wonder- 
fully made."  The  team  of  "critters"  is  a  bona-fide  spectacle  piti- 
ful to  look  at,  lame  and  often  blind.  The  yellow  dogs  that  lie  in 
the  front  door  yard  have  scarcely  sufficient  energy  to  recognize  a 
stranger  or  bark  a  good  square  bark.  They  look  as  though  thev 
wanted  something  and  did  not  know  where  to  get  it. 

Such  are  pictures  of  the  two  classes  of  farmers.  The  latter 
class  is  becoming  rare  in  this  age  of  steam  and  progress.  They 
have  been  rooted  out  and  gone  off  "  where  it  aint  so  thickly  set- 
tled." 

There  is  a  most  perfect  harmony  existing  between  the  agricul- 
turalist and  the  manufacturer,  the  mechanic  and  professional  man. 
There  is  no  agency  at  work,  when  their  relations  are  properly  under- 
stood, that  tears  the  one  down  to  build  the  other  up.  They  each  have 
a  work  to  perform  and  a  sphere  to  fill.  Our  whole  industrial  svstem 
is  like  a  perfect  machine.  Some  parts  may  be  more  powerful  and 
exert  a  greater  influence  than  others,  yet  all  the  parts  are  of  equal 
utility.  The  farmer  is  not  independent,  nor  is  the  mechanic,  the 
laborer,  the  lawyer,  the  doctor,  nor  any  one  who  labors  with  mus- 
cle or  brain. 

•  We  do  not  deem  it  material  to  devote  space  to  notice  the  differ- 
ent agricultural  and  horticultural  products  of  the  county.  They 
are  substantially  the  same  throughout  Central  Illinois.  Corn  is 
now,  and  no  doubt  will  remain  our  staple  product.  As  our  prairies 
were  being  opened  up  for  cultivation,  and  when  -the  soil  was  very 
rich,  a  very  large  acreage  of  wheat  was  sown.  But  of  late  years 
the  wheat  crop  has  been  on  the  decline  so  that  now  it  is  fequently 
the  case  that  we  do  not  raise  enough  of  this   cereal  for   home  con- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  2I3 


sumption.*  This  is  owing  to  sev'eral  reasong;  the  decline  in  price 
since  the  war,  the  destruction  of  late  years  by  chinch-bugs,  rust, 
severe  winters,  etc.,  the  labor  required  to  produce  it,  as  compared 
with  corn,  and  other  products.  If  the  amount  of  labor  that  is  be- 
stowed upon  wheat  culture  in  St.  Clair  and  other  wheat-growing 
counties,  was  expended  here,  our  wheat  crops  would  double  their 
present  yield.  The  timber  soil  of  this  county  is  better  adapted  to 
wheat  raising  than  that  of  the  prairie;  which,  no  doubt,  is  owing  to 
the  protection  the  wheat  receives  from  the  snow  lying  upon  the 
ground  more  evenly  upon  timber  fields,  and  also  owing  to  the  fact 
of  there  being  more  clay  in  the  timber  soil,  which  seems  to  be  bet- 
ter adapted  to  prevent  the  injury  arising  from  constant  freezing  and 
thawing.  The  soil  is  more  compact,  and  seems  to  protect  the  roots 
better. 

But  little  spring  wheat  is  sowed,  and  very  little  rye  and  barley — 
though  good  crops  are  raised  of  both  the  latter.  Of  late  years  a 
great  deal  more  attention  is  being  given  to  pasturage.  Formerly 
but  a  small  proportion  of  our  farms  was  devoted  to  meadows,  but 
now  many  of  our  tarmers  devote  more  space  to  grass  than  to  grain. 
Our  soil  and  climate  are  admirably  adapted  to  the  culture  of  timo- 
thy and  clover,  and  the  labor  required  for  the  preservation  of  these 
crops  is  insignificant  when  compared  to  that  required  for  corn  and 
wheat.  Oats  ai'e  raised  in  sufficient  amount  for  home  use,  but  not 
largely  for  foreign  market. 

A  great  deal  of  attention  is  now  being  given  to  the  raising  of 
hogs  and  cattle.  No  doubt  much  more  attention  will  be  given 
to  this  as  our  country  grows  older,  than  to  the  raising  of  grain  for 
the  market.'  The  stock  of  hogs  now  in  the  county  is  far  superior 
to  that  which  we  had  in  our  early  history;  while  our  beef  cattle 
have  improved  equally  as  much.  One  of  our  oldest  butchers  states 
that  our  cattle  now  upon  the  market  for  home  consumption  will 
average  at  least  one-third  better  than  they  did  twenty  years  ago. 
The  "scrubs"  and  "  hazle-splitters  "  of  the  last  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury are  growing  scarcer  day  by  day.  It  costs  no  more  to  raise  a  good 
cow  or  a  good  hog  than  A  poor  one,  if  indeed  as  much.  Better  stock — 
thanks  to  our  Pickrells,  Taylors,  Barbers,  and  a  host  of  other  names 
we  might  mention — is  upon  exhibition  now  at  our  county  fairs  than 


*  It  is  estimated  that  three-fourths  of  the  wheat    consumed  by  our  mills 
in   1875  and   1876,  is  foreign  wheat. 


214  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


could  be  found  at  our  State  fairs  a  few  years  since.  As  a  breeder 
of  stock,  especially  short-horns,  James  H.  Pickrell  of  Harristown, 
is  known  among  stock  men  throughout  North  America  and  Great 
Britain.  He  holds  the  position  of  President  of  the  North  Ameri- 
can Short-horn  Association.  In  the  fall  of  1875  he  visited  England 
and  Scotland,  and  collected  a  herd  of  cattle  perhaps  not  excelled  in 
the  United  States  or  Canada. 

There  are  now  but  few  sheep  in  the  county — 11,349  in  1870,  and 
6,538  in  1S76. 

We  close  this  chapter  with  the  following  brief  table,  compiled 
from  the  assessor's  books  for  the  years  1S60,  1870,  1875  and  1S76, 
though  the  valuations  affixed,  of  course,  are  much  below  the  real 
value: 

i860. 

ARTICLES.   ^  NO.  VALUE. 

Horses , 

Neat  Cattle , 

Mules  and  Asses 

Sheep 

Hogs 

Improved  lands  (acres) 3^5555^ 

Improvements  on  land 

Acres  in  corn 49,410 

Acres  in  wheat 16,322 

Acres  other  field  products 7,61 1 


5.079 

$213,300 

1 1,601 

125,737 

482 

23,265 

3.783 

4,007 

13.728 

35.109 

305.558 

2,315.909 

698,792 

1870. 

Horses 10,888  295,765 

Neat  Cattle 15.623  160,754 

Mules  and  Asses 1,480  45.^84 

Sheep 11,549  5.453 

Hogs 30,102  58,862 

Improved  lands  (acres) 305,558  2,315,909 

Improvements  on  land 648,792 

Acres  in  corn 91,929             

Acres  in  wheat 30,H5             

Acres  other  field  products 25,085             

1875. 

Horses 1 2,568  659,603 

Cattle 19,617  404,128 

Mules  and  Asses   2,287  161,014 

Hogs 45,750  195.242 

Improved  lands  (acres) 344,621  8,881,791 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


215 


VALUE. 
$390,679 


1875. 

ARTICLES.  NO. 

Unimproved  lands 23,33 1 

Acres  in  corn    156,673 

Acres  in  wheat.  ...    13,718 

Acres  in  oats 24,163 

Acres  in  meadow 18,171 

Acres  other  field  pi^oducts 9^279 

Acres  in  pasture 47,209 

1876. 

Horses 1 2,607 

Cattle 1 8,93 1 

Mules  and  Asses 2,438 

Sheep ^oS^ 

Hogs 38,886 

Improved  lands  (acres) 340,218 

Unimproved  lands 2 1,021 

Acres  in  corn 146,244 

Acres  in  wheat ^5733 

Acres  in  oats 24,8 1 7 

Acres  in  meadow 20,385 

Acres  other  field  products 559*^5 

Acres  in  pasture .  ; 49,986 


608,1  II 
360,569 
156,748 

11737 
179,001 

8,718,936 

412,953 


i 


2l6  HISTORY  OF   MACOX  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    \'III 


Our  Cities,  Towns  and  Villages. 


THE    CITY  OF   DECATUR.* 


The  history  of  a  county  and  that  of  its  county  seat  are  so  inti- 
mately connected  that  it  is  difficult  to  speak  of  them  separately; 
their  interests  are  the  same;  that  which  advances  one  advances  the 
other;  that  which  retards  the  one  retards  alike  the  other.  But  we 
deem  it  necessary  to  devote  a  short  space  to  the  history  of  the  city 
proper.       We  sometimes  observe   the  town  advance  more  rapidly 


*NoTE. — Stephen  Decatur — This  city  was  named  after  that  gallant  com- 
mander Stephen  Decatur,  of  whom  it  is  proper  in  this  connection  to  give  a 
short  sketch  of  his  hrilliant  history,  successes,  triumphs  and  the  unfortunate  ter- 
mination of  his  earthly  career.  This  "Bayard  of  the  seas"  was  born  in  Worces- 
ter county,  Maryland,  Jan.  5,  1779.  At  the  age  of  nine  years  young  Stephen 
made  a  sea  voyage  with  his  father,  from  which,  no  doubt,  he  received  the  im- 
pressions that  determined  his  course  of  life.  His  early  education  was  received 
in  Philadelphia,  where  he  returned  soon  after  the  evacuation  of  that  city  by 
the  British.  He  was  a  leader  in  all  the  amusements  at  school,  and  was  called 
"Capt.  Dick."  He  next  was  sent  to  Pennsylvania  Universit}',  where  he  remained 
but  a  short  time. 

We  next  find  him  assisting  in  the  construction  of  the  frigate  "United  States," 
which  he  afterwards  commanded,  and  which  became  famous  in  our  country's 
naval  history.  He  went  with  Commodore  Barr}'  on  board  the  United  States 
on  a  cruise  through  the  west  Indies,  to  suppress  the  depredations  of  the  French 
privateers.  On  this  voyage  several  successful  encounters  were  had  with  F^rench 
vessels  in  the  vicinity  of  Martinique,  in  all  of  which  Decatur,  then  but  twenty 
years  of  age,  manifested  the  bdld,  daring  disposition  of  his  future  life,  a!^d  ren- 


HISTORY  OF   MACOX  CONXTY.  217 

than  the  surrounding  country,  and  vice  versa;  but  that  has  not 
been  the  case  with  Macon  county  and  the  city  of  Decatur.  They 
have  kept  step  by  step  in  their  advancement  in  wealth,  improve- 
ments, population  and  general  prosperity.  Political  demagogues 
are  sometimes,  for  their  own  selfish  purposes,  disposed  to  array 
the  city  against  the  country  or  the  country  against  the  city,  as  the 
case  maybe;  but  to  the  true  observer  their  interests  are  one  and  in- 
separable, as  a  moment's  reflection  will  demonstrate.  The  man 
that  takes  no  interest  in  his  county  town  and  its  advancement  is  an 

dered  signal  services  for  which  he  was  made  Heutenant.  He  was  next  engaged 
in  cruising  along  the  coast  from  Georgia  to  Cape  Cod,  protecting  our  commer- 
cial interests.  He  then  made  two  voyages  across  the  ocean,  after  which  a 
treaty  of  peace  was  declared  between  the  United  States  and  France,  which  put 
an  end  to  the  naval  prospects  of  Di2catur  for  the  time  being. 

The  United  States  soon  after  sent  a  squadron  to  the  Mediterranean  to  stop 
the  depredations  of  the  Tripolines  and  Algerines  upon  our  commerce.  Deca- 
tur was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  under  Capt.  Bainbridge,  on  board  the 
Essex,  which  was  stationed  to  guard  the  coasts  and  port  of  Tripoli,  where  he 
remained  until  1802,  when  the  Essex  was  relieved  by  the  Chesapeake,  under 
Com.  Morris,  when  he  returned  home.  After  spending  a  few  weeks  at  home 
his  restless  spirit  induced  him  to  join  the  New  York,  under  Capt.  James  Bar- 
row, with  whom  he  again  set  sail  for  the  Mediterranean  in  Sept.,  1802.  He  re- 
mained but  a  short  time  and  returned  home,  where  he  was  put  in  charge  of  the 
Argus,  on  which  he  saile-d  to  Gibraltar,  where  he  assumed  command  of  the 
schooner  Enterprise,  with  which,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1803,  he  captured  the 
Tripoline  craft  Mostico,  with  70  prisoners.  In  the  early  part  of  1S04,  Captain 
Bainbridge,  being  a  prisoner  in  the  City  of  Tripoli,  and  the  gallant  old  ship 
Philadelphia  having  been  captured,  which,  with  its  forty  guns,  well 
manned,  effectually  guarded  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  it  was  determined  that 
this  ship  should  be  burned,  but  who  was  to  undertake  the  hazardous  experi- 
ment.' Decatur  volunteered  his  services.  With  his  little  schooner  Intrepid, 
with  but  a  few  guns,  assisted  by  the  Siren,  he  set  sail  for  Tripoli,  where  he  ar- 
rived July  4,  1804.  They  cautiously  approached  the  harbor  where  the  Philadel- 
phia lay  anchored,  and  on  a  dark  night  the  Intrepid,  with  Decatur  at  the  helm, 
came  up  to  within  a  few  yards  of  their  coveted  prize  before  being  discovered. 
They  lashed  the  Intrepid  to  the  towering  form  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Deca- 
tur and  his  brave  men  jumped  on  deck  of  the  latter,  drew  their  swords  and 
rushed  upon  the  panic  stricken  crew,  and  in  five  minutes  killed  and  .drove  them 
pell-mell  into  the  water.  The  cables  of  the  Philadelphia  were  cut  and  she  was 
set  on  fire,  floating  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds.  "As  the  streaming  flame  cir- 
cled around  mast  and  boom,  flinging  its  lurid  glare  over  the  waste  of  water, 
the  old  vessel  floated  along  until  her  final  explosion.  The  exultant  shouts  of 
her  captors  penetrated  the  prison  walls  of  Tripoli  and  proclaimed  speedy  liber- 
ation." 

—28 


2l8 


HISTORY   OF   MACON  COUNTY. 


enemy  of  his  county;  and  the  resident  of  the  town  that  Hkewise 
disregards  the  interests  of  the  surrounding  county,  has  studied  but 
Httie  of  the  relative  demands  of  each,  and  fails  to  see  their  mutual 
interests,  or  his  own  interest  even. 

The  land  on  which  the  original  Totvn  of  Decatur  was  located 
was  entered  by  Parmenius  Smallwood,  Easton  Whitton  and  Chas. 
Prentice,  for  which,  at  the  time  of  the  location  of  the  town,  they 
had  received  no  patent  from  the  government.  On  the  20th  day  of 
June,  1829,  they  entered    into  bond  with  the  then   county  commis- 


A  short  time  afterwards  he  commanded  a  division  of  gunboats  at  the  bom- 
bardment of  Tripoli,  in  which  he  was  engaged  in  several  hand-to-hand  encoun- 
ters and  was  wounded  with  a  pike  in  the  hands  of  the  captain,  who  had  assas- 
sinated his  brother  but  a  few  minutes  before.  Decatur  was  now  made  post-cap- 
tain, and  received  a  sword  for  his  gallantry  displayed.  At  25  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  Constitution,  one  of  the  finest. vessels  in  the  service.  With  this 
he  proceeded  to  Malta,  and  in  a  short  time  peace  was  declared  and  Decatur  re- 
turned home,  where  he  was  met  with  demonstrations  of  honor  and  esteem. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Tripoline  war,  England  and  France  began  their 
system  of  spoliation  on  our  commerce,  and  Decatur  was  placed  in  command  of 
a  squadron  on  the  Chesapeake.  \\'hen  the  American  embargo  was  declared, 
Decatur  was  placed  in  command  of  the  frigate  Chesapeake!  More  elaborate  prep- 
arations were  authorized  by  Congress.  Among  the  vessels  then  put  in  prepara- 
tion was  the  United  States,  the  vessel  he  had  assisted  in  constructing,  and  on 
which  he  started  in  his  naval  career.  Me  was  transferred  to  the  squadron  of 
Com.  Rogers  on  June  21,  181 1,  and  started  on  a  cruise  with  a  view  of  attacking 
a  British  fleet  bound  for  Jamaica.  The  fleet  captured  six  vessels  and  returned 
to  Boston.  On  the  25th,  he  met,  near  tlie  Island  of  Madeira,  the  English  ship 
Macedonian,  commanded  by  the  experienced  and  highly  accomplished  Capt. 
Corden.  Aiter  a  hard  engagement,  the  latter  surrendered,  with  104  killed  and 
wounded  and  the  whole  crew  prisoners.  Decatur  lost  12  killed  and  wounded. 
He  then  returned  home.  Great  applause  heralded  his  arrival.  Resolutions 
and  medals  from  Congress  and  state  legislatures  were  voted,  and  he  was  every- 
where proclaimed  the  champion  of  the  American  navy. 

The  Macedonian  and  Hornet  were  now  added  to  Decatur's  command,  and  he 
placed  his  squadron  in  Long  Island  Sound.  In  1814  he  was  again  placed  in 
command  of  the  President.  In  January,  1815,  he  fell  in  with  the  British  squad- 
ron, about  fifty  miles  east  of  Long  Island,  and  after  a  bloodv  engagement  was, 
for  the  first  time  in  his  career,  compelled  to  surrender.  He  was  sent  to  Ber- 
muda, and  thence  home.     In  the  meantime  peace  was  declared. 

He  was  not  content  with  peace,  however.  The  piratical  Algerines  had  been 
creating  havoc  with  our  commerce,  and  Decatur  was  soon  in  command  of  a 
squadron  en-route  for  Gibraltar,  on  arriving  at  which  place  the  whereabouts  of 
the  Algerine  fleet  was  ascertained,  and  he  immediately  started  in  pursuit  and 


HISTOKV  OF   MACON  COUNTY.  219 

sioners,  that  after  they  should  receive  a  patent  they  would  convey 
to  the  commissioners  a  deed  of  gift  for  30  acres  of  land,  on  which 
the  town  had  been  located  on  the  loth  day  of  April,  previous. 

On  the  1st  day  of  June,  1839,  at  a  meeting  of  the  county  com- 
missioners' court  an  order  was  made  as  follows: 

"  Ordered^  That  Benj.  R,  Austin,  county  surveyor  for  the  county 
of  Macon,  be  and  he  is  hereby  required  to  lay  oft'  the  town  of  De- 
catur, in  said  county,  after  the  form  of  Shelbyville,  and  make  and 
return  to  one  of  the  commissioners  of  this  court  a  complete  plat  of 
the  same,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  July  next." 

Under  this  order  the  survey  was  made  and  acknowledged  on  the 
yth  day  of  July  following.  At  the  same  term  of  court  the  follow- 
ing order  was  also  made  by  the  commissioners: 


soon  overtook  and  captm-ed  a  part  of  the  squadron.  He  pushed  on  to  Algiers 
and  dictated  peace  to  the  frightened  inhabitants,  which  closed  forever  the  Al- 
gerine  war  and  i\lgerine  piratical  thefts. 

Notwithstanding  the  treaty  made  with  the  Tripolitans,  ensuing  the  war  with 
that  power  above  referred  to,  thej  continued  to  harrass  our  commerce  in  con- 
nection with  the  pirates  of  Tunis.  Decatur  left  Algiers  without  authoritv  from 
his  gON-ernment,  and  proceeded  to  Tunis  and  forced  an  indemnity.  Thence  he 
proceeded  to  Tripoli,  and  the  Bashaw,  not  willing  again  to  meet  the  gallant 
Decatur,  likewise  agreed  upon  terms. 

Decatur  then  returned  home,  where  he  met  the  same  enthusiastic  reception 
as  before.  He  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  the  Navy,  which  post  he  filled 
with  credit,  which  concluded  his  brilliant  naval  career,  which  will  be  honored 
and  respected  as  long  as  our  flag  floats  over  the  seas. 

The  gallant  commander's  life  was  now  shortly  to  close.  We  would  gladly  drop 
the  pen  at  this  period  in  this  wonderful  man's  career.  Unfortunatelv,  at  that  pe- 
riod, the  ''code  of  honor,"  that  relic  of  barbarism  was  still  tolerated.  On  the  22d 
of  March,  1S20,  he  fell,  mortally  wounded  in  a  duel  with  Com.  Barrow,  at 
Bladensburg.  He  fell  saying:  "  I  am  mortally  wounded,  and  I  wish  that  I  had 
fallen  in  defense  of  my  country."  He  sank  rapidly,  beseeching  his  friends  to 
look  after  his  wife,  whom  he  tenderly  loved,  and  not  to  him. 

The  tbllowing  notice  heralded  to  the  world  the  unfortunate  occurrence:  "  A 
hero  has  fallen.  Com.  Decatur,  one  of  the  first  officers  of  our  navy,  the  pride 
of  his  country;  the  gallant,  noble-hearted  gentleman  is  no  more.  Mourn  Co- 
lumbia, for  one  of  thy  brightest  stars  is  set — a  son  without  fear,  without  re- 
proach, in  the  fullness  of  his  fame,  in  the  prime  of  his  usefulness,  has  descend- 
ed to  his  tomb."  His  remains  repose  on  a  beautiful  site  overlooking  Washing- 
ton and  the  potomac. 

A  worthy  name  for  a  rising  young  city  of  the  west  to  assume. 


320  HISTORY  OF   MACON   COUXTY. 


"  Ordered^  That  a  sale  of  lots  take  place  in  the  town  of  Decatur, 
in  this  county,  on  the  loth  day  of  July  next,  on  the  following 
tei'ms,  to-wit:  a  credit  of  twelve  months  will  be  given,  and  note 
with  approved  security  will  be  required,  and  that  the  clerk  of  this 
court  is  required  to  advertise  the  sale  in  the  i^aper  j^rinted  in  Van- 
dalia  until  the  day  of  the  sale." 

At  the  next  term  of  court  we  find  that  D.  McCall  was  allowed 
$500  "for  money  paid  to  R,  Blackwell,  for  warrants  and  advertis- 
ing the  sale  of  lots  in  the  town  of  Decatur," 

At  the  sale  on  the  loth  day  of  July,  the  first  lot  sold  was  lot  No- 
2,  in  block  3,  where  Priest's  Hotel  now  stands,  which  being  a 
"  corner  lot,"  was  bid  in  by  John  Manly,  for  $53.50.  The  second 
lot  sold  was  lot  6,  in  block  i,  where  Armstrong's  drug  store  now 
is,  which  was  bid  in  for  $12.00. 

The  first  house  erected  in  town  was  by  James  Renshaw — "Uncle 
Jimm}  Renshaw,"  he  was  called — on  lot  3,  block  3,  just  north  of 
Priest's  Hotel.  The  second  house  erected  was  by  Philip  D.  Wil- 
liams,-on  lot  4,  block  1,  where  the  store  of  Close  &  Griswold  now 
stands.  "Philip"  kept  a  livery  stable  in  those  early  days — or  rather 
a  place  for  the  "entertainment  of  beasts."  There  was  a  very  large 
log  lying  in  north  Water  street,  nearly  opposite  the  entrance  to  the 
present  court  room.  Upon  this  log  boxes  had  been  nailed  or  trenches 
cut  in  which  the  horses  were  fed.  There  was  also  a  log  lying  in  front 
of  Renshaw's  house,  which  we  omitted  to  mention  was  a  tavern — 
the  first  in  Decatur — upon  this  log,  in  early  days,  card  jDlaj-ing  was 
carried  on.  It  was  the  card  table,  and  rather  conspicuous,  we 
should  say.  Whether  any  fortunes  were  lost  and  won,  we  are  unable 
to  say;  but,  judging  from  the  court  records,  and  the  number  of  en- 
tries of  "  indictments  for  gaming,"  entered  thereon,  it  appears  that 
'  gaming  was  a  very  common  pass-time,  and  the  number  of  "convic- 
tions" would  indicate  that  there  was  also  playing  "  for  money," 
and  the  names  of  the  parties  charged,  would  further  indicate  that 
the  "heads  of  town"  were  accessories,  if  not  principals,  in  the  en- 
chanting games. 

The  officers  of  the  town,  and  afterwards  city  of  Decatur,  since  its 
organization,  are  as  follows; 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  221 


BOARD    OF    TRUSTEES. 


1S36. —  Richard  Oglesby,  President.  Trustees:  Wm.  T.  Crissey, 
G.  R.  White,  *Wm.' Webb,  Thomas  Cowan,  fH.  M.  Gorin,  Henry 
Butler,  Landy  Harrall.  f  Andrew  Love,  Clerk;  James  Carter  k^id 
Wm.  Webb,  Constables.  /^ 

183S. — fjoseph  Williams,  Henry  Snyder,  Presidents.  Trustees: 
James  Renshaw,  James  F.  Montgomery,  George  R.  White,  Henry 
Pratber.  Edmund  McClellan,  Clerk;  Richard  Oglesby,  J.  P. 
Hickcok,  Treasurer;  John  S.  Adamson,  Assessor;  William  Rad- 
clifFand  Thomas  Cowan,  Supervisors;  J.  H,  Elliott,  Constable. 

1839. — Trustees:  William  T.  Crissey,  S.  B.  Etewees,  J.  M\  For- 
dice,  IJames  F.  Montgomery. 

1S39. — Kirby  Benedict,  President.  Trustees:  John  S.  Adam- 
son,  Thomas  Cowan,  Samuel  B.  Dewees,  Jesse  H.  Elliott,  William 
T.  Ci'issey,  Thomas  H.  Read.  H.  M.  Gorin,  Clerk;  George  R. 
White,  Treasurer;  H.  Prather,  Assessor  and  Collector;  G.  W. 
Gilbrath,  Zebulon  Cantrall  and  William  Webb,  Constables. 

1S40. — Joseph  King,  President.  Trustees:  Henry  Goodman, 
William  Cantrill,  B.  F.  Oglesty,  David  Wright,  John  G.  Speer, 
David  E.^  Ralls.  H.  M.  Gorin,  Clerk;  G.  R.  White,  Treasurer; 
I.  C.  Pugh,  Collector;  William  Webb,  Constable. 

II  1841. — -Thomas  P.Rodgers,  President.  Trustees:  J.  H.  Elliott, 
D.  E.  Ralls,  G,  R.  White,  Henry  Goodman,  Benjamin  R.  Austin, 
J.  D.  Tait.  J.  S.  Post,  Clerk;  J.  H.  Read,  Treasurer;  Joseph  Ste- 
vens, Assessor  and  Collector;  Wm.  Webb,  Constable. 

1846. — David  Crone,  President.  Trustees:  Elijah  Krone,  Jo- 
seph KaufFman,  Michael  Elson,  Thomas  H.  Read.  E.  B.  Hale, 
Clerk;  G.  A.  Smith,  Constable. 

1847.— D.  ^'I'oiie,  President.  Trustees;  J.  H.  Read,  M.  Elson, 
Joseph  KaufFman.  Nathan  P.  West,  Clerk;  E.  McClellan,  Con- 
stable; B.  H.  Cassell,  Assessor. 


*  Died,     f  Resigned.     %  It  does  not  appear   from    the  record  that  these  last 

named  trustees  ever  met,  but  that  there  was  an  election  held  on  the  6th  day  of 

May,  1839,  under  a  special  act  incorporating  the   town  of  Decatur,  at  which 
election  another  board  was  chosen. 

II  This  was  the  last  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  town  of  Decatur  for  five 
years. 


222  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY. 


1848.— J.  H.  Elliott,  President.  Trustees:  H.  Prather,  H.  Arm- 
strong, E.  O.  Smith,  Jos.  King.  N.  P.  West,  Clerk;  E.  McClel- 
lan,  Constable;  B.  H.  Cassell,  Assessor  and  Treasurer. 

1849. — Joseph  Kauffman,  President.  Trustees:  H.J.Armstrong, 
J.  H.  Elliott,  Jos.  King,  W.  S.  Crissey.  N.  P.  West,  Clerk;  B. 
H.  Cassell,  Assessor  and  Treasurer;  H.  Goodman,  Constable. 

1850. — Joseph  King,  President.  Trustees:  W.J.  Stamper,  Wm. 
Prather,  C.  H.  Pringle,  Wm.  Wheeler.  B.  H.  Cassell,  Clerk; 
Wm.  Wheeler,  Constable;  B.  H.  Cassell,  Assessor  and  Treas- 
urer. 

1S51. — Wm.  S.  Crissey,  President.  Trustees:  Wm.  Prather,  C. 
H.  Pringle,  Joseph  King,  W.J.  Stamper.  B.  H.  Cassell,  Clerk, 
Treasurer  and  Assessor, 

1852. — W.  J.  Stamper,  President.  Trustees:  W.  S.  Crissey, 
Wm.  Prather,  C.  H.  Pringle,  Jos.  King.  B.  H.  Cassell,  Clerk, 
Treasurer  and  Assessor. 

1853. — Wm.  Prather,  President.  Trustees:  W.  S.  Crissey,  W. 
J.  Stamper,  Joseph  King,  John  Ricketts.  B.  H.  Cassell,  Clerk, 
Treasurer  and   Assessor. 

1854. — William  Prather,  President.  Trustees:  William  J.  Stam- 
per, William  S.  Crissey,  Joseph  King,  Thomas  H.  Wingate.  B. 
H.  Cassell,  Clerk. 

1854. — Thomas  H.  Wingate,  President.  Trustees:  William  S. 
Crissey,  Willam  Martin,  Elias  Tanner,  John  Ricketts.  B.  H.  Cas- 
sell, Clerk;  H.  Churchman,  Constable. 

1855. — Thomas  H.  Wingate,  President.  Trustees:  A.  L.  Kel- 
lar,  J.  R.  Gorin,  William  S.  Crissey,  William  Martin.  B.  H. 
Cassell,  Clerk. 

CITY    COUNCIL. 

*i856. — John  P.  Post,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  Frank  Priest,  1st 
ward;  E.  O.  Smith,  2d  ward;  J.  R.  Gorin,  S.  P.  Ohr,  3d  ward; 
J.J.  Ballentine,  H.  Taylor,  4th  ward.  C.  C.  Post,  Clerk  and  At- 
torney. 

*  An  election  was  held  for  city  officers,  under  a  special  charter,  on  the  7th 
of  January,  1856. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY,  223 

1S57. — William  A.  Barnes,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  George  Good- 
man, Joseph  Mills,  1st  ward;  H.  B.  Durfee,  George  Dempsey,  2d 
ward;  A.  T.  Hill,  John  P,  Post,  3d  ward;  Israel  B.  Gring,  Geo. 
Wessels,  4th  ward.     J.  P.  Boyd,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

185S. — James  Shoaff,  Mayor.  Aldermen :  Joseph  Mills,  J.  B. 
Trull,  1st  ward;  H.  B.  Durtee,  Isaac  D.Jennings,  ^d  ward;  John 
P.  Post,  Samuel  F.  Greer,  3d  ward;  George  Wessels,  O.  Powers, 
4th  ward.     S.  S.  Goode,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

1859. — A.  T.  Hill,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  James  Simpson,  J.  L. 
Mansfield,  xst  ward;  John  W.  Bear,  M.  Haworth,  2d  ward;  Sam- 
uel F.  Greer,  William  Lintner,  3d  ward;  O.  Powers,  J.  C.  Benton, 
4th  ward.     S.  S.  Goode,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

i860. — Sheridan  Wait,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  James  Simpson, 
S.  S.  Hale,  1st  ward;  E.  McNabb,  William  J.  Scanlan,  2d  w^ard ; 
Wm.  Lintner,  Peter  M.  WykofF,  3d  ward;  J.  C.  Benton,  John'L_ 
Peake,  4th  ward.     J.  R.  Gorin,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

1861. — E.  O.  Smith,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  F.  Priest,  long  term, 
Chas.  A.  Tuttle,  short  term,  ist  ward;  James  Millikin,  William  J. 
Scanlan,  2d  ward;  W.  H.  Bramble,  P.  M.  Wykoff,  3d  ward;  Joel 
C.  Benton,  long  term,  William  A.  Barnes,  short  term,  4th  ward, 
J.  R.  Gorin,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

1862. — Thomas  O.  Smith,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  F.  Priest,  D.  H. 
Elwood,  1st  ward;  James  Millikin,  Lowber  Burrows,  2d  ward; 
Henry  Goodman,  W.  H.  Bramble,  3d  ward;  Joel  C.  Benton,  Ben- 
son Henkle,  4th  ward.     J.  R.  Gorin,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

1863. — J.J.  Peddecord,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  D.  H.  Elwood, 
David  S.  Hughes,  ist  ward;  James  Millikin,  Lowber  Burrows, 
2d  ward;  William  H.  Bramble,  Henry  Goodman,  3d  ward;  John 
Ullerich,  Benson  Henkle,  4th  ward.  J.  R.  Gorin,  Clerk  and  At- 
torney. 

1864.— J.  J.  Peddecord,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  C.  A.  Tuttle,  D.  L, 
Hughes,  1st  ward;  M.  Y.  Givlcr,  James  Millikin,  2d  ward;  M. 
Forstmeyer,  J.  G.  Starr,  3d  ward;  Benson  Henkle,  long  term,  T. 
B.  Albert,  short  term,  4th  ward.  K.  H.  Roby,  Clerk  and  At- 
torney. 


f  Resigned.     *  To  till  vacancy. 


224  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

1865. — Franklin  Priest,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  Charles  A.  Tuttle, 
Charles  H.  Fuller,  1st  ward;  M.  Y.  Givler,  William  J.  Usrey,  2d 
ward;  M.  Forstmeyer,  E.  A.Barnwell,  3d  ward;  fBenson  Henkle 
S.  T.  Trowbridge,  4th  ward.     K.  H.  Roby,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

1S66.— Franklin  .Priest,  Mayor.  fCharles  H.  Fuller,  S.  F.  Haw- 
ley,  ist  ward;  W.J.  Usrey,  E.  McNabb,  2d  ward ;  E.A.Barn- 
well, M.  Forstme3-er,  3d  ward;  G.  Howell,  short  term,  H.  Muller, 
long  term,  4th  ward,     f  A.  B.  Bunn,  Clerk  and  Attorney. 

1867. — John  K.  Warren,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  S.  F.  Hawley, 
Joseph  Mills,  1st  waixl;  E.  McNabb,  2d  ward;  M.  Forstmeyer,  J. 
R.  Gorin,  3d  ward;  H.  Muller,  B.  F.  Dodson,  4th  ward.  C.  H. 
Fuller,  Register. 

186S. — Isaac  C.  Pugh,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  D.  P.  Elwood,  Joseph 
Mills,  1st  ward;  L.  L.  Haworth,  S.  Burrows,  2d  ward;  M.  Forst- 
meyer, J.  R.  Gorin,  3d  ward;  B.  F.  Dodson,  H.  Prather,  4th  ward. 

C.  H.  Fuller,  Register. 

1869. — Wm.  L.  Hammer,  Mayor,     Aldermen:  D.  P.  Elwood, 

D.  S.  Shellabarger,  ist  ward;  L.  L.  Haworth,  J.  L.  Libby,  2d 
ward;  M.  Forstmeyer,  G.  S.  Simpson,  3d  ward;  H.  Prather,  W.  F. 
Busher,  4th  ward.     C.  H.  Fuller,  Register. 

1870. — F.  Priest,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  f  E.  M.  Misner,  D.  S. 
Shellabarger,  ist  ward;  Benj.  Dill,  *  E.  McNabb,  2d  ward;  G.  S. 
Simpson,  M.  Forstmeyer,  3d  ward;  W.  F.  Busher,  E.  Harpstrite, 
4th  ward.     C.  H.  Fuller,  Register. 

1S71. — E.  M.  Misner,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  Joseph  Mills,  *Wm. 
J.  Myers,  ist  ward;  Benj.  Dill,  E.  McNabb,  2d  ward;  M.  Forst- 
meyer, Wm.  H.  Bramble,  3d  ward;  E.  Harpstrite,  Wm.  Gabbler, 
4th  ward.     C.  H.  Fuller,  Register. 

1S72. — D.  S.  Shellabarger,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  Joseph  Mills, 
W.  J.  Myers,  ist  ward;  F.  Hardy,  E.  McNabb,  2d  ward;  A.  T. 
Hill,  Wm.  H.  Bramble,  3d  ward;  Wm.  Gabbler,  B.  B.  Richards, 
4th  ward.  George  P.Hardy,  Register;  Thomas  Lee,  Attorney  ; 
M.  K.  Hatch,  Treasurer;  G.  V.  Loring,  City  Engineer;  John  W. 
Haworth,  Marshal. 

1873. — Martin  Forstmeyer,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  Geo.  Stare,  W. 
J.  Myers,  ist  ward;  Frank  Hardy,  L.  F.  Muzzy,  2d  ward;  A.  T. 
Hill,  T.  J.  Able,  3d  ward;  James  Peake,  B.  B.  Ricliards,  4th  ward; 


HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY.  225 


Joseph  Leake,  A.  Shoemaker,  5th  ward.  Geo.  Hardy,  Register; 
I.  A.  Buckingham,  Attorney;  G.  V.  Loring,  City  Engineer;  M. 
K.  Hatch,  Treasurer;  John  W .  Haworth,  Marshal. 

1874. — F.  Priest,  Mayor,  Aldermen:  H.  W.  Waggoner,  Geo. 
Stare,  ist  ward;  E.  McNabb,  L.  F.  Muzzy,  2d  ward;  J.  T.  Able, 
Isaac  Ehrman,  3d  ward;  James  Feake,  J.  W.  Butman,  -ith  ward; 
Joseph  Leake,  R.  N.  Mills,  5th  ward.  Geo.  P.  Hardy,  Register; 
L  A.  Buckingham,  Attorney;  M.  K.  Hatch,  Treasurer;  Geo.  V. 
Loring,  City  Engineer;  John  W.  Haworth,  Marshal. 

1875, — R.  H.  Merriweather,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  H.W.Wag- 
goner, W.J.  Myers,  ist  ward ;  Wm.  M.  Boyd,  H.  B,  Durfee,  2d  ward ; 
Isaac  Ehrman,  B.  F.  Stephens,  3d  ward;  James  Peake,  J.  W.  But- 
man, 4th  ward;  Joseph  Leake,  R.  N.  Mills,  5th  ward.  George  P. 
Hardy,  Register;  M.  K.  Hatch,  Treasurer;  I.  A,  Bucl^ingham, 
Attorney;  John  W.  Haworth,  Marshal;  S.  Burgess,  City  Engi- 
neer. 

1876.— W.  B.  Chambers,  Mayor.  Aldermen:  W.J.  Myers,  W. 
J.  Wayne,  ist  ward;  H.  B.  Durfee,  L.  F.  Muzzy,  2d  ward;  I.  W. 
Ehrman,  B.  F.  Stephens,  3d  ward;  James  Peake,  Edward  Harps- 
trite,  4th  ward;  Joseph  Leake,  Kilburn  Harwood,  5th  ward.  Geo. 
P.  Hardy,  Register;  I.  A.  Buckingham,  Attorney;  M.  K.  Hatch, 
Treasurer;  S.  Burgess,  City  Engineer;  John  W.  Haworth,  Mar- 
shal. 

V     ITS    WATER    WORKS. 

The  Sangamon  river  furnishes  ample  facilities  to  the  city  of  De- 
catur for  fire  protection  and  water  privileges.  It  runs  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  southern  limits  of  the  city.  At  the  most  avail- 
able point  on  the  river,  just  above  the  crossing  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  and  above  the  drainage  and  sewerage  from  the  city, 
is  located  the  city  water-works.  There  has  probably  been  no 
acquisition  to  the  city,  since  the  construction  of  the  railroads,  that 
has  added  more  to  its  advancement  and  permanent  improvement 
than  the  water-works.  At  the  time  of  their  construction  there 
were  a  few  grumblers  opposed  to  their  construction,  for  reasons 
they  no  doubt  thought  were  plausible,  but  at  the  present  time  it  is 
safe  to  say  that  there  is  not  any  enemy  to  them.  It  is  a  remark  often 
made  that  tor  fire  protection  alone  more  property,  in  value,  has 
been   saved  by  means   of  the   water-works  than   the  entire  cost  of 

—29 


226  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


their  construction  and  operation.  They  were  constructed  under 
the  direction  of  the  city  council,  in  1S71,  at  a  cost  of  $35,000,  and 
the  additional  mains,  machinery,  and  other  incidental  expenditures 
up  to  the  present  time  amount  in  the  aggregate  to  $130,000,  which 
has  been  paid  with  the  exception  of  the  oriirinal  debt.  The  works 
are  constructed  upon  the  holly  system;  the  engines  being  located 
at  the  river,  and  the  water  forced  from  that  point  to  all  parts  of  the 
city.  Hydrants  are  placed  atdificrent  points  upon  all  the  principal 
streets,  so  that  by  the  attachment  of  hose  to  them,  we  have  what 
is  equal  to  a  steam  fire  engine  at  the  corner  of  almost  every  block  in 
the  city.  The  mains  are  tapped  by  persons  desiring  the  use  of  the 
water  for  domestic,  manufacturing  and  other  purposes,  and  the  rev- 
enues derived  from  this  source  are  now  about  equal  to  the  expenses 
of  running  the  works,  including  labor,  repairs,  fuel,  etc.  There 
are  about  8j/^  miles  of  pipes  laid,  and  Si  fire  plugs,  which  are 
being  extended  from  time  to  time,  as  necessity  requires.  The  capa- 
city of  the  works  is  about  eight  hundred  thousand  gallons  per  day, 
which  will  be  suflicient  to  meet  the  demand  for  years.  The  water 
furnished  being  filtered,  is  pure,  and  suitable  for  all  domestic  pur- 
poses, in  fact  is  very  much  preferable  to  that  obtained  from  the 
wells  in  the  business  part  of  town.  The  water  is  not  impregnated 
to  any  considerable  extent  with  lime  deposits,  which  renders  it  suit- 
able for  nTanufacturing  purposes. 

FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

In  connection  with  the  water  works,  it  is  proper  to  notice  the 
Decatur  Fire  Department.  It  is,  as  at  present  organized,  perhaps 
as  efticient  as  any  similar  organization  in  the  State.  The  compa- 
nies, though  unjoaid,  are  prompt  and  energetic.  The  fire  apparatus 
of  the  various  companies  is  excellent,  and  kept  in  good  condition, 
and  is  controlled  by  the  companies  with  almost  as  much  skill  as  is 
displayed  by  the  regular  paid  companies  in  our  large  cities. 

The  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  was  first  organized,  which  was 
in  June,  1868.  Some  of  the  members  of  this  company  are  among 
our  most  wealthy  merchants  and  business  men.  At  present  it  has 
a  membership  of  fift}-  men,  and  is  well  uniformed,  and  has  all  the 
implements  pertaining  to  such  companies.  Homes  Cloyd,  fore- 
man; Enos  Kepler,  ist  assistant;  Chas.  Fletcher,  2d  assistant. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  227 


Rescue  Hose  Company,  No.  i,  was  organized  in  1S71;  W.  W. 
Foster  is  foreman;  George  Craft,  ist  assistant;  N.  Pringle,  2d 
assistant. 

Eldorado  Hose  Company  No.  2,  was  organized  in  1871;  Andrew 

Shoemaker  is  foreman;  John  Sutler,  ist  assistant; 2d 

assistant. 

Neptune  Hose  Company  No.  3,  was  organized  in  1875;  W.J. 
Wayne  is  foreman;  Samuel  Funk,  ist  assistant;  James  Hughes, 
2d  assistant. 

The  department  is  under  the  control  of  a  chief  and  two  assistants, 
viz:  H.  B.  Durfee,  chief;  William  Dodson,  ist  assistant;  John 
Ulrich,  2d  assistant. 

MAROA,  ILLINOIS. 

This  is  the  largest  and  most  important  town,  except  Decatur, 
within  the  limits  of  Macon  county,  and  is  located  13  miles  north  of 
the  latter  city.  It  is  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Illinois  Central 
and  Illinois  Midland  Railroads.  The  original  plat  of  the  town  was 
jointly  laid  out  by  the  "Associated  Land  Company"  and  the  "I.  C. 
R.  R.  Co."  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  opened  to  the  pub- 
lic in  1S54,  and  that  may  be  stated  as  the  commencement  of  the 
town  of  Maroa.  Mr.  John  Crocker  was  appointed  the  first  agent 
of  the  road,  which  position  he  held  until  1866. 

The  first  house  built  in  Maroa  was  in  the  fall  of  1855,  by  G.J. 
Schenck,  which  was  then,  and  still  is  used  by  him  as  a  dwelling; 
part  of  it,  however,  has  been  used  as  a  store-room. 

The  second  house  erected  was  also  by  Mr.  Schenck,  but  was  for 
Mr.  Barndt,  in  1856;  and  Mr.  Friedman  erected  the  next  two — a 
dwelling  and  a  store-house.  He  started  the  first  regular  store  in 
Maroa,  and  he  has  continued  in  business  to  the  present,  and  is  the 
oldest  store-keeper  in  Maroa. 

In  1858  Wm.  Greer  erected  the  "Prairie  Hotel,"  which  was  the 
first  hotel,  though  prior,  and  even  since  that  time,  Mr.  Schenck's 
hospitable  home  has  alwas  been  a  place  open  to  the  weary  traveler. 
In  the  same  year  the  first  school  house  was  erected  in  Maroa,  and 
Robert  Collins  was  the  first  school  teacher.  The  present  Maroa 
school  house  was  erected  in  1866,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000,  and  furnishes 
accommodations  for  200  pupils. 


238  .     ■    HISTORY    Op-    MACON    COUNTY. 


Maroa  Lodge  No.  314,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  May  3,  1865, 
and  the  following  officers  installed:  Thomas  Hunter,  X.  G.;  M. 
Friedman,  V.  G. ;  O.  J.  Harlow,  S.  ;  James  Huff,  P.  S. ;  Jonah 
Linglc,   Treasurer.      The  lodge  now  numbers  about  75  members. 

Maroa  Lodge  No.  454,  A  .  F.  A.  M.,  was  organized  July  4, 
1865,  and  the  first  officers  installed  were:  John  H.  Crocker,  W.  M.; 
R.  C.  Crocker,  S.  W.  ;  O.J.  Harlow,  J.  W .  ;  G.  W.  Conover, 
T.  ;  A.  C.  Kccver,  vS.  D.;  Jacob  Cooper,  J.  D.,  and  W.  L.  Webb, 
Tyler. 

Maroa  Lodge,  No.  102,  Order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  was  or- 
ganized January,  1873,  with  27  members,  with  the  following  offi- 
cers: J.  B.  Garvin,  M.;  Henry  Jones,  Overseer;  J.  B.  Gardner, 
Lecturer;  John  Longstreet,  Steward;  A.  Wykoff,  Assistant;  J.  B. 
Parkhurst,  Chaplain;  W.  P.  Funk,  Treasurer;  Joseph  Jones,  Sec- 
retary; W.  O.  Williams,  G.  K.;  Mrs.  Emma  Williams,  Ceres; 
Miss  Mary  A.  Garvin,  Flora;  Mrs.  K.  Cooper,  Poma. 

The  Maroa  Library  Association  was  organized  August  27,  1870, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Hood,  and  is  at  pre- 
sent organized  under  the  State  law.  The  library,  though  quite 
small,  has  been  a  source  of  improvement  to  its  patrons,  and  no  doubt 
will,  in  the  course  of  a  few   years,  become  the  nucleus  of  a  library 

that  will  be  an    honor  to  its   founders  and  the  citizens  of  Maroa. 

Among  the  liberal  donors  to  this  institution,  as  to  all  others  that 
have  the  improvement  of  his  fellow-citizens  as  their  object  and  aim, 
we  mention,  specially,  Elder  John  Crocker. 

The  Maroa  Steam  Flouring  Mills  were  erected  in  1S66,  by  Con- 
over  Bros.,  at  a  cost  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  dollars.  It 
has  a  capacity  of  about  fifty  thousand  bushels  per  year,  and  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  best  mills  in  Central  Illinois.  It  is  at  present 
under  the  management  of  W.  J.  Compton. 

The  Maroa  Steam  Elevator  was  erected  in  1867,  by  J.  W.  Rich- 
ards &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  but  is  now  under  the  management  of  Messrs. 
Crocker  &  Co.,  and  has  a  capacity  for  storage  of  14,400  bushels, 
and  can  shell  and  load  five  hundred  bushels  per  hour.     We  might 

mention  still  other  business  houses  of  Maroa,  but  space   forbids. 

We  can  truthfully  say,  however,  that  the  business  men  of  this  town, 
as  a  class,  are  energetic  and  successful.  In  fact,  the  tact  of  the 
business  men  of  Maroa  has  made  the  town  what  it  is  to-day.  As 
a  town,  it  has  had  no  more  natural  advantages  than  many  others  in 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  229 


Central  Illinois  that  it  has  outstripped  and  quadrupled  in  population 
and  advancement.  As  a  shipping  point,  there  are  few,  if  any  other 
places  along  the  entire  line  of  the  I.  C.  R.  R.,  that  excel  it.  There 
has  been  shipped  from  this  point,  in  a  single  year,  as  high  as  650,- 
000  bushels  of  grain.  It  is  the  second  town  in  size  in  the  county— 
the  population  at  present  being  about  1,500 — and  has  reached  that 
jDoint  in  business  and  commercial  importance,  which  assures  it  a 
steady  and  onward  progress.  The  town  of  Maroa  was  incorpora- 
ted by  special  act  of  the  legislature,  March  7,  1S67.  Job  A.  Race, 
John  B.  Gary,  Henry  Stauffer,  Joseph  Wilson  and  Henry  Jones, 
being  the  incorporators.  Mr.  Race  was  the  first  President  of  the 
Town  lioard,  and  Mr.  Gary,  Secretary.  Maroa  has  four  churches, 
viz:  Presbyterian,  Methodist-Episcopal,  Methodist-Protestant,  and 
Ghristian.  The  former  was  organized  January  30,  1S50,  by  the 
Rev.  A.J.  Norton,  and  its  church  edifice  erected  in  1S67.  It  has  a 
regular  pastor,  a  large  membership,  Sunday  school,  etc.  The 
Ghristian  church  was  organized  by  Elder  A.  N.  Page,  Ma}'^  4,  1868, 
and  the  present  church  edifice  was  erected  the  following  year.  The 
membership  is  large,  and  the  Sunday  school  well  attended. 

The  Methodist-Episcopal  and  Methodist-Protestant  churches  are 
in  a  good  condition,  so  far  as  membership  and  progress  are  con- 
cerned. Their  church  edifices  are  ample  in  size,  and  meet  the  de- 
mands of  respective  congregations. 

Maroa  and  surrounding  community  has  supported  a  weekly 
newspaper  for  several  years.  The  first  paper  published  was  the 
Times^  in  1867;  T.J.  Sharp,  editor.  This  was  succeeded  by  the 
Tablet^  and  that  in  turn  by  the  Tribttiie^  in  186S;  A.  H.  Gorman, 
editor.  This  paper  was  removed  in  1873,  to  Decatur,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  News^  which  is  at  present  owned  by  Mr.  Gorman, 
and  is  an  eight-page,  forty-column  sheet. 

THE  CITY  OF  MACON. 

This  place  was  incorporated  as  a  city  on  the  19th  of  April,  1869. 
The  first  house  built  was  commenced  by  Esquire  A.  J.  Harris,  one 
Sunday  Morning  in  the  spring  of  i860.  The  first  store-house  was 
built  by  Gharles  Williams  and  James  Seamens,  in  the  year  1859. 
The  first  hotel  was  kept  by  the  station  agent,  Mr.  Ruby.  After 
the   incorporation  of  the  town,  the   first  officers  were  J.  H.  Mat- 


J30  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


thews,  Mayor;  T.  C.  Drinkall,  Clerk;  and  C.  A.  Turner,  M.  Dun- 
lap,  Charles  Van  Horn  and  Jacob  Frick,  Aldermen.  Its  present 
officers  are  C.  A.  Turner,  Mayor;  J.  W.  Harrah,  Clerk;  and  James 
L.  Hight,  Daniel  Kalips,  J.  D.  Peters  and  William  Whitaker,  Al- 
dermen. 0 

In  1865,  the  present  school  house  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$4,000.     It  has  a  capacity  for  about  350  pupils. 

Macon  Lodge,  No.  467,  A.  F.  A.  M.,  was  organized  in  1865,  and 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

There  is  also  a   Lodge   of  the  I.  O.  G.  T.,  Xo.  884,  that  has 
been  in  existence  several  years. 

There  are  two  large  grain  elevators  in  the  town  ;  one  ow^ned  by  W. 
Harbert  &  Co.,  and  the  other  by  N.  Failing.  The  former  was 
erected  in  1S74,  and  has  a  storage  capacity  of  about  thirty  thousand 
bushels,  and  with  its  facilities  can  shell  and  load  two  thousand  bush- 
els of  grain  per  day,  and  in  the  shipping  season  employs  four  or 
five  men.  The  firm  owming  this  elevator  are  W.  Harbert  and  C. 
Dunkel;  the  former  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  since  1874,  and 
the  latter  since  1876.  The  "Macon"  elevator  was  erected  in  1867, 
by  John  Hatfield,  Fletcher  Miller,  N.  Failing  and  D.-C.  Webb,  and 
is  at  present  owned  by  Mr.  Failing.  This  elevator  has  a  storage 
capacity  of  twenty  thousand  bushels,  and  can  shell  and  load  five 
thousand  bushels  per  day.  This  elevator  and  machinery  cost  in 
the  neighborhood  of  twelve  thousand  dollars,  and  furnishes  em- 
ployment for  four  men.  Mr.  Failing  came  to  Macon  from  Rock 
Island  in  1863,  and  has  represented  his  town  in  the  board  of  super- 
visors for  several  years.  He  is  a  thorough  and  safe  business  man, 
and  has  done  a  great  deal  for  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  his 
town.  Macon  formerly  was  one  of  the  best  shipping  points  for  grain 
on  the  I.  C.  Railroad,  but  the  building  of  the  town  of  Blue  Mound, 
on  the  St.  Louis  branch  of  the  T.  W.  &  W.,  has  taken  from  it  one- 
third  at  least  of  its  original  shipping  interest.  The  population  at 
present  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  650.  The  business  men  of  Ma- 
con compare  favorably  with  those  of  all  our  inland  towns.  It  has 
four  churches,  viz:  Methodist-Episcopal,  Presbyterian,  Catholic, 
and  Lutheran — all  of  which  are  well  sustained.  The  church  edifice  of 
the  former  was  erected  in  1S65;  the  Presbyterian  and  Catholic  in 
1867,  and  the  Lutheran  in  1S71. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  23I 


BLUE    MOUND. 

Soon  after  the  construction  of  the  Decatur  and  East  St.  Louis 
Raih-oad,  in  1868,  this  town  sprung  into  existence,  and  has  contin- 
ued to  increase  in  population  and  a  commercial  point  of  view  from 
that  time  since.  It  has  some  residences  and  store-houses  that  would 
be  a  credit  to  a  much  laij^er  place,  and  its  streets  often  present  a 
scene  of  activity  and  business  astonishing  to  one  not  acquainted 
with  the  thriving:,  g^o-ahead  character  of  its  merchants  and  business 
men.  There  is  more  business  transacted  in  some  ot  our  railroad 
towns  in  one  day  than  there. is  in  a  week  in  towns  of  double  their 
size  in  some  of  our  eastern  states;  and  Blue  Mound  is  a  fair  illus- 
tration of  the  truthfulness  of  this  remark.  The  town  was  laid  out 
through  the  inHuence  of  Doctor  Goltra,  who  owned  at  the  time  of 
the  location  of  the  railroad,  the  land  upon  which  the  town  plat 
was  laid  out. 

This  town  has  its  churches  and  school — all  of  which  are  in  suc- 
cessful operation.  It  derived  its  name  from  two  large  mounds,  situ- 
ated not  far  distant.  These  mounds  have  been  objects  of  specula- 
tion and  curiosity  to  our  citizens  from  the  time  of  the  first  visit  of 
white  men  to  this  vicinity.  Whether  they  are  of  natural  or  artifi- 
cial origin,  will,  in  all  probability,  remain  matters  of  conjecture? 
and  upon  which  the  writer,  in  this  connection,  does  not  deem  it 
proper  to  add  suggestions. 


Is  situated  on  the  main  line  of  the  Wabash  Railroad,  west  of  De- 
catur, and  is  an  energetic,  lively  town.  It  is  surrounded  by  an 
excellent  agricultural  country,  which  wa?,  practically  donated  to 
Macon  county,  as  elsewhere  noticed,  because  it  was  thought  to  be 
absolutely  worthless.  Niantic  and  Niantic  township  present  a 
marvelous  outgrowth  of  the  swampy  appearance  jA.  presented  in 
early  days.  It  is  affirmed  by  some  of  our  early  settlers  that  the 
swamp  land  commissioner  could  not  have  disposed  of  the  whole 
township  for  ten  cents  jDer  acre  in  the  first  settlement  of  the  county. 
Now  it  is  one  of  our  best  townships,  and  its  town  is  one  of  our  most 
thriving  and  energetic. 

Niantic  is  the  home  of  the  erratic  poetical  genius.  Captain  Joab 
Wilkinson,  who  worships  at  the  shrine  of  the    muses,  and   whose 


232  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

daily  conversation  bubbles  up  with  poetical  gems  from  Milton  and 
Burns. 

HARRISTOWN, 

Though  situated  too  near  Decatur  to  ever  become  large,  deserves 
special  mention  as  a  shipping  point  for  the  surrounding  country. 
It  is  the  home  of  J.  H.  Pickrell,  our  famous  breeder  of  short-horns, 
elsewhere  noticed;  also  of  M.  G.  Camron,  who,  as  a  member  of 
our  board  of  supervisors,  has  been  faithful  and  vigilant  in  guarding 
the  interests  of  the  county. 

WARRENSBURG, 

In  mini  township,  has  grown  up  within  the  last  few  years, 
since  the  construction  of  the  Pekin,  Lincoln  &  Decatur  Railroad. 
As  a  point  for  the  shipment  of  grain  and  stock  it  is  destined  to  be 
of  very  considerable  commercial  importance. 

MOUNT    ZION, 

Though  until  the  construction  of  the  P.  &  D.  (now  I.  M.)  Rail- 
road, was  without  railroad  facilities,  has  been  known  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century  as  the  location  of  the  Mt.  Zion  Seminary,  which  at 
one  time,  was  a  flourishing  school.  The  village  is  located  near  the 
junction  of  the  I.  M,  and  M.  S.  &  D.  Railroad,  and  is  in  one  of  the 
oldest,  wealthiest  and  earliest  settled  neighborhoods  of  the  county. 

FORSYTH, 

Is  situated  on  the  I.  C.  Railroad;  has  an  elevator,  and  is  one  of  the 
best  grain  markets  in  the  county. 

ARGENTA    AND    OH E AN A, 

On  the  1.  B.  &  VV.  Railroad,  arc  towns  growing  in  importance  and 
will,  in  a  few  years,  become  points  of  considerable  commercial 
interest. 

OAKLEY,    SANGAMON,    WHEATLAND,    BOODY, 

Are  villages  of  local  interest  to  their  surrouudiu";  neishborhoods, 
and  all  have  stores,  and  some  of  them  elevators  and  other  conven- 
iences for  shipping. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  233 


CHAPTER    IX 


THE  COMMON  SCHOOLS. 


A  history  of  the  county  without  noticing  the  educational  interests, 
would  be  incomplete,  and  yet  we  are  unable  to  give  much  valuable 
information  in  regard  to  the  earlv  school  system  of  the  county.  The 
fact  is  the  early  schools  of  the  county  were  like  angel's  visits  are  said 
to  be,  few  and  far  between;  and  the  whole  educational  system — if  sys- 
tem it  may  be  called — of  Macon  county,  in  common  with  the  state, 
was  almost  without  order  or  management.  There  were  good  schools 
taught,  but  as  compared  with  the  present  system,  and  its  advanta- 
ges, they  were  far  inferior.  There  were  some  good  "schoolmas- 
ters" in  those  days,  who  were  veiy  successful  in  rearing  the  tender 
minds  and  teaching  the  young  ideas  how  to  shoot;  but  the  majority 
were  but  poorly  qualified  for  the  duties  of  instructors.  The  popu- 
lar standard  of  education  was  low,  owing  to  the  peculiar  incidents 
and  surroundings  of  pioneer  life.  The  country  was  sparsely  set- 
tled, and  the  people  generally  poor;  and  however  anxious  they  may 
have  been  for  good  educational  advantages,  it  was  utterly  impos- 
sible to  obtain  them.  But  few  who  had  qualified  themselves  for 
the  profession  of  teaching  wandered  so  far  \vest.  The  school  mas- 
ter vv^as  generally  some  unfortunate,  poverty-stricken  wretch  that 
had  been  wafted  to  the  outskirts  of  civilization,  and  had  become 
snow-bound,  water-bound,  or  frost-bitten,  and  was  compelled  to 
"take  up  a  school"  to  keep  soul  and  body  together  until  a  favorable 
opportunity  presented  itself,  for  him  to  get  to  his  destination,  or 
back  to  his  home  in  the  east.  Not  infrequently  did  it  happen  that 
a  man  was  to  be  found  who  was  too  lazy,  in  the  popular  estimation, 

—30 


234  HISTORY  OF   MACOX  COUNTY. 

for  anything  else  than  a  school  teacher,  who  was  induced  to  pass 
around  his  "subscription  for  signers,"  and  "take up"  a  school!  Some 
people  seemed  to  have  entertained  the  idea  that  laziness  was  one  of 
the  qualifications  of  a  school  teacher!  The  Biblical  camel  could 
about  as  well  accomplish  the  needle's  eye  feat  as  one  of  these  living 
specimens  of  inertia  could  properly  manage  and  "keep  a  school,"  in 
those  days,  when  the  big  boys  were  boiling  over  with  mischief,  and 
had  no  great  respect  for  the  restraint  of  the  school  room,  any  how. 
The  teachers  were,  of  necessity,  poorly  paid,  and,  all  things  con- 
sidered, perhaps,  rendered  as  much  instruction  in  proportion  to  the 
compensation,  as  those  of  the  present  day.  It  was  certainly  no 
pleasant  task  in  those  days  the  teacher  had  to  perform.  He  usually 
"boarded  round"  with  the  scholars,  and  in  this  respect  was  like  a 
stray  dog,  having  no  fixed  place  of  abode.  He  was  compelled  to 
make  long  and  laborious  journeys  to  and  from  his  temporary  stop- 
ping places;  which,  taken  in  connection  with  the  fact  that  the  poor 
fellow  was  often  poorly  clad,  and  possessed  no  great  amount  of 
vitality,  at  any  rate,  rendered  him  an  object  of  mingled  commisera- 
tion and  pity.  He  was  likewise  made  the  target  at  which  was 
hurled  all  the  knotty  questions  of  theology,  mathematics,  science 
and  politics,  that  had  descended  down  to  the  different  households 
from  generation  to  generation. 

These  knotty  problems  were  piled  on  the  poor  pedagogue  pro- 
miscuously, and  in  pell-mell  order,  as  though  he  were  a  creature  of 
infinite  power,  and  had  the  ability  to  solve  ihem,  scr/af/m,hy  some 
magical  power  to  the  populace  unknown.  The  teacher  and  big 
boys  of  the  neighboring  district  poured  in  on  the  poor  fellow  all 
sorts  of  mathematical  questions  that  would  have  puzzled  the  arith- 
metic makers  themselves,  and  it  was  a  forfeiture  of  his  standing  in 
the  community  if  he  did  not  furnish  a  solution  and  prove  his  dem- 
onstration by  the  rules  of  Smiley  or  Adams.  It  was  not  infrequent 
in  later  days  that  the  school-master  was  put  through  a  most  critical 
examination  on  Kirkham  or  vSmith,  by  pater  famiUas^  to  determine 
his  fitness  to  teach  Sarah  Jane  the  rudiments  of  English  Grammar, 
and  woe  betide  the  unfortunate  pedagogue  if  by  chance  he  happen- 
ed to  transgress  the  ipse  dixit  of  the  inquisitor's  favorite  author. 
He  was,  also,  the  neighborhood  calculator  of  interest  on  all  the  paid 
and  unpaid  notes  of  the  community,  and  was  also  expected  to  fur- 
nish each  famil}'  with  the  mathematical  data  as  to  the  required  num- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  235 

ber  of  hogs,  at  a  given  price,  to  purchase  the  adjoining  forty  acres 
at  the  next  sale,  at  the  land  office.  He  was  also  expected  to  furnish 
to  order  reasonable  and  satisfactory  arguments  for  combatting  the 
heretical  dogmas  of  preacher  so-and-so,  who  had  a  short  time  pre- 
vious came  near  capturing  the  whole  neighborhood  with  his  "  new 
light"  doctrines,  or  anti-total-depravity-theories. 

He  had,  also,  divers  other  difficulties  to  meet  and  overcome.  He 
v^^as  usually  compelled  to  court  the  good  graces  of  the  young  men 
who  were  his  pupils.  They  sometimes  were  disposed,  on  slight 
provocation,  to  plot  treason  against  the  government,  which  some- 
times ripened  into  overt  acts.  It  often  happened  that  open  rebel- 
lion existed,  and  the  poor  teacher  was  subjected  to  a  pummeling  at 
the  hands  of  the  refractory  members  of  his  school.  At  other  times 
the  parents  themselves,  for  grievances  they  supposed  justifiable, 
took  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and  inflicted  upon  the  ofTending 
master,  a  punishment  entirely  too  serious  for  a  well-regulated  com- 
munity to  tolerate.  An  instance  is  related  of  one  poor  fellow  who 
had  offended  his  patrons,  being  compelled  to  make  the  best  record 
known  in  the  community,  in  the  shape  of  a  foot-race,  being  urged 
on  and  on,  in  front  of  a  pair  of  brutal  stogas  which  were  propelled 
by  an  irate  father.  His  coat-tails  are  said  to  have  ever  and  anon 
floated  high  in  air,  at  the  touch  of  the  swearing,  raging,  pursuing 
ursine.  Whether,  henceforth,  the  offending  teacher  became  a  wan- 
derer, disconsolate  and  heart-broken,  like  Ichabod  Crane,  is  not 
stated. 

Other  instances  might  be  given  where  ye  pedagogue  was  bound 
hand  and  foot  by  his  pupils,  taken  by  force  of  arms  from  his  castle, 
as  it  were,  and  ducked  in  the  creek  or  frog-pond,  and  that,  too, 
when  the  temperature  was  almost  as  frigid  as  it  is  supposed  to  be 
on  the  north  side  of  the  icebergs  in  Iceland.  There  was,  also,  a 
habit  in  early  days  of  baring  the  teacher  out  of  the  school-house  on 
Christmas  if  he  would  not  treat  the  school  to  apples,  candy,  or 
something  of  that  nature  equally  as  insignificant.  It  is  even  said 
that  the  demands  of  the  elder  portion  of  the  male  pupils  were  often 
for  a  jug  of  something  stronger  and  more  exhilarating.  This  was 
a  custom  originating  no  one  knows  where,  at  one  time  rigidly  ad- 
hered to,  but  now  passed  away  with  many  other  aforetime  usages. 
The  teacher  had  his  pleasures  and  enjoyments  as  well.  It  was 
not  all  thorns  and  thistles  that  grew  along   his   pathway.     A    few 


536  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


flowers — puny,  sickly  blossoms  of  the  morning-glory  order,  to  us 
they  might  seem  but  flowers,  nevertheless — also  grew  among  them. 
He  was  one  of  the  lords  of  creation,  as  he  boarded  around  from 
house  to  house.  There  was  nothing  too  good  in  the  eating  line, 
from  the  dried  pumpkins  that  hung  in  strings  on  the  wall,  to  honey 
and  venison  and  wild  turkey,  that  was  not  placed  before  him. 
There  was  nothing  but  the  dyspepsia  that  prevented  the  revolving 
teacher  from  farcing  sumptuously  everyday;  and  few  remember 
of  having  seen  a  school-teacher  in  those  days  of  long  walks,  airy 
school-houses,  who  was  dyspeptic.  The  general  experience  of  the 
good  old  house-wives  of  those  days  is,  that  a  school-teacher  who 
had  eaten  a  cold  dinner,  or  no  dinner  at  all,  and  then  after  school 
"was  out"  had  walked  from  two  to  five  miles  to  his  evening  domi- 
cile, and  had  his  appetite  whetted  by  the  appetising  aroma  that  rose 
from  the  semicircle  of  cooking  victuals  in  front  of  the  old-fashioned 
fire-places,  could  come  as  near  reading  his  title  clear,  to  earthly  en- 
joyment, as  any  one.  He  was  generally  able  to  do  ample  and  com- 
plete justice  to  the  repast,  so  to  speak.  There  was  enjoyment  in 
it.  He  was  ipso-facto^  for  the  time  being,  lord  of  all  he  surveyed, 
and  he  surveyed  with  a  kind  of  otitiin  cum  dignitate  grace  that 
would  make  a  hungry  mortal  feel   glorious. 

If  he  had  any  knack  at  all  in  story-telling,  he  was  undoubtedly 
highly  edified  in  sitting  around  the  firesides  during  the  long  winter 
evenings,  and  dealing  out  to  the  listening  household  those  startling 
stories  that  have  descended  down  for  generations,  and  have  accu- 
mulated in  size  and  horror  at  almost  each  repetition.^  Old  grandma, 
too,  was  often  on  hand  with  her  stories  of  goblins  and  ghosts,  that 
made  the  little  folks,  and  teacher  as  well,  feel  shaky  and  down- 
hearted, and  almost  afraid  to  move.  There  were  in  those  early 
days  when  most  people  had  nothing  to  read,  except,  perhaps,  the 
Testament,  Peep  of  Day,  Life  of  Boone,  or  Marion,  much  real  en- 
joyment in  story-telling,  and  the  teacher  was  always  expected  to 
do  his  duty  in  this  regard,  or  else  be  voted  an  uncommon  bore. 
And  then  he  was  the  generalissimo  at  all  the  parties  and  gatherings, 
from  the  "  apple-pealings  "  up  to  the  wedding.  At  the  latter  place 
he  was  regarded  as  but  little  lower  than  the  parson  himself,  and 
was  expected  to  furnish  the  fun  necessary  for  the  occasion — and  it 
was  usually  a  very  cheap  order  of  fun  required,  for  on  such  occa- 
sions the  whole  assembly  was  easily  set  wild  with  mirth  and  laugh- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  237 


ter  on  the  slightest  of  provocations.  An  old-fashioned  wedding 
with  the  teacher  left  out,  was  not  regarded  as  altogether  a  success. 
The  materials  were  all  there,  but  it  lacked  a  free  and  easy  sort  of  a 
fellow,  such  as  the  teacher  usually  was,  to  set  the  giggling  ma- 
chinery a-going. 

But  it  was  in  the  school  room  of  those  early  days  that  the  teacher 
showed  his  powers  to  the  greatest  advantage.     There  he  was  the 
supreme  autocrat,  and  ruled,  usually,  with  a  kind  of  sledge-hammer 
bravado  that  was  a  terror  to  little  urchins.     The  moment  he  called 
"books"  there  was  a  mingled   expression   of  sternness  and  gravity 
that  settled  on  his  austere  brow,  as  though  he  was  born  to  rule  the 
storm.     That   very   moment    he  become    transposed    from    Philip 
drunk,  to  Philip  sober,  as  it  were;  and  he  gathered  up  all  the  hila- 
rious faculties  about  him,  and  drowned  them  out  as  if  thenceforth 
and  forever  he  expected  to  remain  an  iceberg  of  despair  and  solem- 
nitv.     When    he  spoke,  he  spoke  as  one  having  authority;  and  his 
orders  were  peremtory  and  absolute.     There  was  no  look  of  com- 
promise in  his  appearance,  and  the  black  flag  was  kept  continually 
unfurled  from,  his  ramparts.     On  the   morning   school    commenced 
he  read  a  string  of  rules  as  long   as   the   code   Napoleon,  and  alto- 
gether niore  stringent.     These  rules  he  carried  in  his  hat,  read  once 
a  day,  by  way  of  warning,  and  in  the  enforcing  of  which  he  direct- 
ed more  energy,  mental  and  physical,  than  to  imparting  instruction. 
There  stood    in  the  corner,  or  lay  concealed  in  the  desk,  a  weapon 
of  daily  use,  of  hickorv  or   hazel   origin.     This  he   used   as   a  war 
measure,  both  offensive  and  defensive.     It  \vas  not  used  as  a  dernier 
resort,  but  as  a  first  resort,   and   that,  too,  often  quite   vigorously. 
When  the  offending  urchin  had  passed  the  line   pi'escribed   by  the 
oft  repeated  rules,  no  matter  whether  intentional  or  not,  down  came 
the  rod,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  show  the  Inexorable  quality 
of  the  aforesaid  rules.     Order  was  the  first  law  of  heaven,  and  the 
keeping  of  order  w'as  the   keeping   of  the   rules.     If,  for  instance, 
the  rules  said,   "No  laughing  out   in   school   allowed,"    and  by  the 
merest  accident,  and  wholly  unintentional,  the  most  innocent  little 
titter  was  heard  above  the  surrovmding  din,  the  dogs  of  war  were 
let  loose,  and  the  offender  dragged  to  justice.     Who  that  has  ever 
been  in  school  with  a  lot  of  little,  mirth-loving  brats,  all  bubbling 
over  with   fun,  and   does  not   know    that  there    are    little  incidents 
occuring   in   the   school-room  daily,  that   it   would   be   worse   than 
death  itself  if  the  little  fellows   could  not  laugh.     Just   as  well  try 


238  HISTORY  OF   MACOX   COUNTY. 


to  dam  up  the  Niagara  at  the  rapids,  as  suppress  one  of  these  invol- 
untary laughs  in  a  child  full  of  spirit  and  life.  "It  won't  down." 
Yet  the  teacher  had  his  rules,  and  these  rules  were  absolutely  with- 
out provisos;  and  he  enforced  them  without  an  if  or  a  but.  He 
regarded  it  as  a  kind  of  dot-your-/-and-cross-your-/  transaction.  The 
act  was  sure  to  bring  on  the  penalty,  without  regard  to  intention  or 
any  other-element  of  crime. 

The  method  of  teaching  was  also  quite  different  from  that  of  the 
present  day.  It  is  hardly  susceptible  of  accurate  description.  It  is 
one  of  those  things  that  ought  to  be  seen  to  be  duly  appreciated. 
The  school  books  were  very  few.  Webster's  spelling  book  was 
the  book  used  by  beginners,  usually;  though,  perhaps,  not  usdd  in- 
the  first  schools  of  the  county.  There  was  the  old  English  reader, 
that  succeeded  next  in  order,  after  the  spelling  book;  but  few,  how- 
ever, were  able  to  obtain  it.  There  was  no  uniformity  in  the  school 
books.  Almost  every  family  of  children  had  a  different  kind  of 
book,  which  their  parents  had  used  in  their  school  days,  and  had 
handed  down  usually  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  It  was  not 
unusual  that  the  children  learned  their  a,  b,  c's  from  a  shingle,  upon 
which  the  letters  were  cut  or  made  with  chalk  or  charcoal.  The 
New  Testament  was  often  used  as  a  reader  for  all  grades  of  ad- 
vancement. It  answered  the  purpose  of  a  first,  second,  third,  fourth 
or  fifth  reader.  It  was  in  arithmetic,  however,  that  the  defects  of 
the  early  system  of  educational  training  were  the  most  apparent. 
In  this  there  was  absolutely  no  order  or  system.  There  were  no 
classes,  and  each  pupil,  provided  with  an  arithmetic,  slate  and  pen- 
cil, "ciphered"  on  at  his  own  pleasure,  without  explanation  or  ver- 
ification. He  was  required  to  commit  the  rules  to  memory,  or  so 
much  of  them  as  was  printed  in  italics.  This  done,  he  launched 
out  into  the  solution  of  the  problems,  having  but  one  object  in  view, 
and  that  was  to  obtain  the  answer  given.  The  whys  and  where- 
fores of  the  different  steps  taken  in  procuring  the  answer  were  mat- 
ters of  no  concern  whatever.  The  "sum"  stated,  and  the  thus  saith 
the  rule,  were  all  the  pupil  desired,  and  all  that  the  teacher  requir- 
ed. It  was  a  kind  of  mechanical  process  that  he  went  through 
with  without  being  able  to  give  a  single  reason  for  a  single  step 
taken,  except  the  mere  fact  that  the  rule  said  so  and  so.  When  the 
pupil  came  to  an  example,  which,  after  a  trial  or  two,  he  failed  to 
obtain  the  given   answer,  he  reported   the  fact   to  the  teacher,  and 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  239 

the  solution  was  given  on  the  slate,  often  without  explanation,  and 
the  pupil  returned  to  his  place  in  the  school-room  satisfied;  not  be- 
cause he  understood  the  modus  operandi^  but  because  he  had  the 
answer  required.  This  process  was  kept  up  until  the  pupil  had 
progressed  as  far  as  the  "single,"  or,  perhaps,  the  "double  rule  of 
three,"  which  was  generally  regarded  as  the  iiltinia  thitle  in  math- 
ematical education;  and  that,  too,  quite  often  from  an  inability  on 
the  part  of  the  teacher  to  conduct — if  conduct  it  may  be  called — his 
pupil  farther.  All  that  lay  beyond  that,  as  a  usual  thing,  was  as  a 
sealed  book — ,i  frozen  sea  on  which  the  pupil  dared  not,  or  consid- 
ered it  uselchb  to  venture.  The  arithmetics  of  the  early  days  were 
far  inferior  and  less  suitable  for  pupils  than  those  of  to-day.  The 
old  dry  pages  of  Daball,  with  their  pounds,  shillings  and  pence, 
would  make  a  fit  subject  for  comparison  with  the  old  bar-shear 
plow  of  fifty  years  a^o.  If  these  two  articles  of  the  past  were  not 
on  exhibition  at  the  Centennial  of  i8y6,  they  should  have  been,  as 
mementos  of  the  past,  to  mark  our  onward  steps  of  progress. 

English  grammar  was  a  study  seldom  pursued.  It  was  consid- 
ered as  rather  too  effeminate  in  its  nature  for  the  hardv  sons  who 
grew  up  in  the  early  days  of  the  county.  It  was  sometimes  stud- 
ied, however,  b}'  the  girls,  as  being  more  suitable  to  their  natures 
and  mental  characteristics.  It  was  not  until  wuthin  the  last  few 
years  that  anatomy,  physiology  and  hygene,  were  made  a  part  of 
the  common  school  curriculum.  The  laws  of  life  and  health  were 
singularly  omitted  in  the  education  of  the  children  under  the  old 
system  of  education.  It  was  considered,  however,  as  highly  pro- 
per that  the  children  should  spend  nine-tenths  of  their  school-daj^s 
in  learning  to  spell  the  contents  of  Webster's  Elementary  from 
asperity  to  the  pictures,  without  for  once  learning  the  simplest  rudi- 
ments pertaining  to  the  preservation  of  health  and  life. 

The  methods  of  recitations  and  teaching  were  difi^erent  from 
those  of  to-day;  and  the  modes  of  study  and  deportment  of  the 
pupils  were  also  vei"y  ditTerent.  It  was  quite  common  during  school 
hours  for  all  the  pupils  to  study  aloud ;  some  reading,  some  spell- 
ing, some  reciting;  some  in  one  tone  of  voice,  and  some  in  another, 
and  all  striving,  seemingly,  to  make  a  bedlam  equal  to  Babel. 
There  were  swells  in  the  general  racket  when  it  seemed  impossible 
to  distinguish,  in  the  din,  one  idea  of  human  origin  or  sense.  The 
noise  and  confusion  were  worse  confounded  than  the  jabbering  of 


240  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


an  army  of  monkeys  in  Africa,  This  would  gradually  die  out  until 
some  little  urchin,  alone,  would  be  heard  unconsciously  coming 
over  hisb-a-k-e-r  baker,  s-h-a-d-y  shady — the  only  audible  sound 
to  be  heard  in  the  whole  room.  He,  too,  when  nudged  in  the  side 
b}'  some  seat-mate,  would  see  the  ridiculousness  of  the  situation, 
and  relapse  into  profound  silence.  Then  the  condition  of  affairs 
would  fitly  illustrate  the  saying,  that  "after  a  storm  the  sea  grows 
calm." 

The  school-houses  were  likewise  worthy  of  mention.   They  were 
almost  invariably   built  of  logs,  and   were  "chinked   and  daubed." 
Some  of  them  had  no  floors,  and  those  that  did  have  the  floors  were 
made  of  puncheons   hewed  upon  one  side    and   not   altogether  as 
smooth  as  marble  floors.     The    school-house   was    heated  from   a 
large  fire-place  at  one  end  of  the  room.     These  fire-places  were  of 
capacious  dimensions.     Huge   logs  were   often   rolled    in  or  carried 
in  by  the  teacher  and  scholars,  that,   except  in  length,  would  have 
made  good  saw  logs.  The  chimneys  were  made  of  wood  and  clay,  of 
sufficient  size  to  have  permitted  a  good  sized   yearling   elephant  to 
have  been   thrown  down  them.     Of  course   most  of  the  heat  from 
the  fire-places  below  passed  up  the  chimney,  instead  of  being  thrown 
out  into  the  room.     The   windows   were   usually   made   by  cutting 
out  a  log  upon  one  side  of  the    school-house,  making   the    windows 
rather  wide  but  not  very  high.     Glass,  they  had  none,  for  the  first 
school-houses,  and    these  "openings   in   the    wall,"    that   have  been 
described,  were  covered   over  with  greased   paper!     The  effect  of 
greasing  the  paper,  in  this  glazing   process,  was  to  make   it  more 
transparent,  and  also  tougher,  so  as  to  withstand  the  storms  of  wind 
and  rain.     It  must  have  been  a  mellow-tinted  light,  that  which  was 
admitted  through  those   tallow-dipped   window  panes!     However, 
whether  good   or  bad,  it    was  the   only    make-shift   they  had  until 
glass    became    accessible.     The    seats    in    those    old   school-houses 
would    be   a  terror   to   this  generation.     They,  too,  like  the  floors, 
were  made  of  slabs,  hewed   upon    one  side,  and,  of  course,  had  no 
backs  to  them.     The  little  fellows  were  placed  side  by  side  on  them 
rough  benches,  six,  eight  or  ten  in  a  row,  and  scarcely  any  of  these 
could  reach   the  floor  with    their  feet,   the  benches  were   so   high. 
Legs  were  driven  into  the  slabs  from  the  lower  side,  and  it  was  not 
always   that  they    were   of  the   same   length,  so  that,  at  times,  the 
benches  would  rock  from  side  to  side,  greatlv   to   the  terror   of  the 


HISTORV   OF   MACOX  COUNTY.  24I 

little  boys  or  girls   perched    on    the  top,  as   the  equilibrium    was 
changed. 

It  must  not  be  inferred,  however,  from  what  has  been  said,  that 
there  were  no  good  results  growing  up  from  the  educational  facili- 
ties I  have  mentioned,  defective  though  they  were.  Men  have 
graced  the  presidential  chair,  and  earned  national  and  world-wide 
reputations,  whose  minds  received  their  first  impulses  in  develop- 
ment from  just  such  school-rooms  and  educational  advantages  as  I 
have  mentioned.  Bud  Means'  are  quite  common  in  this  western 
country.  And  it  may  be  debatable  ground  to-day  whether  Oxford 
and  Harvard  have  made  more  great  men  than  the  stinging,  urging 
necessities  to  self-improvement  and  self-education,  growing  out  of 
the  defects  and  wants  of  educational  fticilities  of  these  pioneer  col- 
leges. Perhaps  the  want  of  education,  and  the  feeling  of  that  want, 
has  built  as  many  school-houses  as  the  possession  of  education, 
coupled  with  a  consciousness  of  its  advantages.  "Wittles"  were 
what  the  hungry  Sam  Weller  wanted  most. 

The  writing  desks  were  made  of  split  logs,  and  in  later  days  of 
planks,  which  were  ranged  around  the  sides  of  the  room,  usually 
under  the  windows.  Pins  were  driven  into  the  wall,  and  the  slabs 
or  planks  laid  on  them,  and  this  constituted  the  writing  desks  for  a 
o-reat  many  years.  They  were  not  of  that  gilt-edged  and  varnished 
sort  of  to-day,  but  were  quite  as  substantial.  These  are  the  desks 
that  the  boys  took  such  a  vicious  delight  in  defacing  with  their 
jack-knives.  They  cut  upon  them  all  sorts  of  hieroglyphical  char- 
acters, checker-boards,  and  representations  of  beings  human  and  not 
human,  some  of  which,  no  doubt,  would  have  made  Th.  Nast 
ashamed  of  himself.  The  larger  boys  and  girls  were  privileged  to 
set  at  these  desks,  not  only  while  writing,  but  while  "doing  their 
sums."  Blackboards  and  charts  were  unknown  in  those  days,  and 
in  fact,  were  not  needed  in  the  method  of  teaching  then  prevailing. 
A  good  many  young  men  remember  when  the  new-fangled  idea  of 
a  blackboard  was  looked  upon  with  a  little  bit  of  distrust  by  some 
of  the  kind-hearted  conservative  old  fellowsv  It  was  the  same  old 
chaps  who  also  winked  a  kind  of  knowing  wink  at  each  other  when 
the  corn-planter  was  introduced. 

Such  as  I  have  mentioned  were  the  school-houses,  school  furni- 
ture and  schools  of  fifty,  forty,  and  even  thirty  years  ago.  They 
were   the   best  that   could   then  be   afforded.     It  may  seem,  and  it 


243  HISTORY   OF  MACOX  COUNTY. 

does  seem  to  many  who  have  witnessed  the  educational  facilities 
above  detailed,  that  the  present  generation  of  children  do  not  duly 
appreciate  the  advantages  that  surround  them.  They  do  not,  per- 
haps, duly  appreciate  their  advantages  for  the  same  reason  that  the 
person  reared  in  wealth  and  luxury  poorly  understands  the  condi- 
tion of  the  poverty-sti'icken  wretch,  that  ekes  out  a  misei-able  ex- 
istence, always  on  the  verge  of  want  and  starvation. 

Now,  then,  a  few  words  in  reference  to  the  present  condition  of 
our  educational  interests.  In  1855  ^^^^  legislature  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  passed  what  is  known  as  the  free-school  law.  Like  all  laws 
designed  to  reach  innumerable  evils,  and  embracing  a  subject  com- 
prehensive and  complicated,  it  was  in  many  respects  defective. 
Frequent  amendments  and  modifications  of  the  law  have  been,  and 
will  continue  to  be  made,  as  wisdom  and  experience  may  suggest. 
One  great  object  attained,  partially,  has  been  to  bring  order  and 
system  in  place  of  the  chaotic  and  disjointed  school  machinery  pre- 
viously existing.  That  our  school  system  is  perfect,  no  one  will 
assume.  That  it  will  be  perfect  while  our  young  men  and  women 
employed  as  teachers,  as  a  usual  thing,  engage  therein  as  a  tempo- 
rary avocation  and  stepping-stone  to  something  higher,  of  course, 
is  impossible.  It  is  not  the  fault  of  the  teachers  that  this  is  so.  It 
ought  to  be  and  will  be  so,  that  teaching  will  be  a  profession  the 
same  as  law  and  medicine.  The  requirements  and  qualifications  of 
a  teacher  should  be  just  as  exacting,  and  a  course  of  preparation 
and  study  for  the  one  should  be  just  as  imperative  as  in  the  others. 
No  joerson  can  teach  a  six-months'  school,  properly,  with  the 
thoughts  and  expectations  of  assuming  another  and  different  avoca- 
tion or  employment  at  the  end  of  that  period.  It  is  not  now  so  in 
our  cities  to  any  considerable  extent,  but  there  are  but  few  teachers 
in  our  country  schools  that  follow  teaching  as  a  business  or  profes- 
sion. It  is  seldom  they  could  do  so  if  they  desired;  for  the  average 
country  school  is  perhaps  not  more  than  five  months  in  length,  and 
no  teacher  can  live  properly  and  support  a  family  upon  five  months' 
wages.  And  then  the  management  under  our  district  system  is 
such,  that  even  though  a  teacher  qualify  himself  properly,  and 
teaches  a  good  school  for  his  patrons,  he  is  liable  to  be  thrown  out 
of  his  position  by  some  nondescript  that  happens  along  who  can 
aflTord  to  underbid  him,  and  does  so.  A  cheajD  shoe  is  not  alwaA's 
the  cheapest.     It  may  answer  the  purposes  for  the  time  being,  even 


HISTORY  OF   MACON  CONNTY.  243 


though  the  material  is  poor  and  the  fit  is  bad;  but  nine  chances  to 
one,  you  will  have  corns,  and  it  may  be,  bunyons,  when  it  is  done 
with.  Our  school  system  is  not  yet  perfect,  when  a  change  of 
residence  from  one  district  to  another,  involves  the  purchase  of  a 
new  set  of  school-books  for  the  whole  family  of  school-going  chil- 
dren. It  is  not  perfect  wheij  there  are  placed  together  in  one 
school,  perhaps  forty  pupils,  all  under  the  charge  of  one  teacher, 
and  pursuing  studies  ranging  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest  per- 
mitted to  be  taught.  None  will  receive  the  attention  they  require. 
This  difficulty,  of  course,  will  be  remedied  as  our  population  be- 
comes more  compact,  and  graded  schools  are  established. 

Again,  our  school  system  is  not  and  cannot  be  perfect,  when  there 
are  in  the  state  forty-four  thousand  officers  charged  with  the  duty 
of  engineering  and  operating  our  school  machinery.  We  have  in 
the  state  about  twelve  thousand  school  districts,  and  thirty -six  thou- 
sand school  directors,  and  these  thirty-six  thousand  directors,  each 
possessing  his  individual  ideas  as  to  the  management,  etc.,  of  the 
schools.*  Each  board  is  empowered  with  the  authority  to  deter- 
mine the  kind  of  text  books  to  be  used,  the  methods  of  instruction, 
the  discipline  and  government  required,  and  the  kind  of  teacher, 
mentally  and  morally,  to  be  employed.  Is  it  possible,  under  this 
army  of  school  officers,  each  board  managing  and  controlling  its 
affairs  in  its  own  way,  that  there  will  be  much  uniformity  or  sys- 
tem in  Our  schools.  No  good  results  are  accomplished,  except  by 
svstem  and  order.  When  a  hundred  men  are  charged  with  a  duty 
which  six,  or  even  three,  can  perform,  the  probability  is  it  will  not 
be  done,  or  if  done,  the  work  will  not  be  very  satisfactory,  and 
especially  so,  if  each  performs  his  part  in  his  own  way,  not  know- 
ing or  caring  how  or  in  what  manner  the  others  are  doing  their 
part. 

Again,  suppose  a  teacher,  by  twenty  years'  teaching  and  practice, 
had  qualified  himself  for  the  duties  of  his  profession,  and  understood 
human  nature,  as  displayed  in  the  school-room,  in  all  its  phases,  so 
that  by  looking  over  the  school-room,  he  could,  by  a  glance,  pick 
out  all  the  little  "inglorious  Miltons,"  the  sulky  Johnies,  and  the 
stubborn  Sarah  Janes,  and  knew  at  once  the  sauce  for  each,  so  to 
speak ;  and  suppose  he  knew,  by  careful  examination,  the  merits 
and  demerits  of  the   whole  list  of  school-books  that   have  passed 


*  We  have  in  Macon  countj-  T19  districts. 


^44 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY, 


through  the  ten-cylinder  presses  of  Hinkle  &  Wilson,  what  sort  of 
propriety  would  there  he  in  allowing  a  board  of  directors  who, 
however  well  versed  in  hogs  and  cattle,  and  their  peculiarities,  in 
plows  and  cultivators  ^nd  their  advantages,  to  say,  "teach  Ray's 
series.  Green's  rudiments,  McGuffey's  readers;  or,  if  the  pupils 
don't  obey,  flog  'em,  its  the  only  thing  that  will  answer  in  this 
deestrict,  or  you  do  thus  and  so,  or  don't  you  do  thus  and  so?"  So 
it  is,  however. 

Of  course,  there  are  still  defects   in   our  present   educational  sys- 
tem.    Nothing  devised  by  man  can  be   perfect.     And  still   it   is  as- 
tonishing to  see  the  rapid  strides  we  are  making  in  the  direction  of 
perfection.     Ask    our   Superintendent    of  Public    Instruction  how 
many  schools   and   school  houses  and  school   teachers — male   and 
female — and   the   average   salary   paid    them,   and  total  number  of 
school  children  between   certain  ages,  and    the   entire  cost   of  the 
education,  and  the  average  cost  to  each  puj^il   in   the   state;  and   he 
can  tell  you.     Ask  our  Count}^  Superintendent  how  many  there  are 
in  the  county  between  the  ages  of  6  and  21,  how  many  of  these  go 
to  school,  and   how  many  do  not;  how  many   of  them   can  neither 
read   or  write;   the   actual  standing  of  each   teacher  in  educational 
qualifications;  how   much    monc}^  is  expended   in   the    county   for 
schools,  school-houses,  school  furniture,  etc.;  and   he    can   tell  3-ou. 
Every  teacher,   no  matter   if  he  joretends   to    have   been  a  college 
professor,  must  have  a  certificate  in  order  to  teach.     If  a  board  of 
directors,  for   lack   of  funds,  or   otherwise,   desire   a   teacher   who 
"passes  muster"  as  a  "second  grade,"  it  can   have  its  wants,  and 
vice  versa. 

We  conclude  this  chapter  upon  the  schools  of  Macon  county,  by 
giving  the  following  table  of  statistics,  comj^iled  from  the  report 
for  the  year  ending  Sept.  30,  1876,  of  S.  P.  Micky,  our  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools : 

Total  No.  of  schools  in  county,  (free  public) 137 

"         "     "  school-houses 127 

"         "     "  graded  schools 13 

"         "     "  teachers — male l4^. 

"         "     "  "  female 1 1 1 

Total  No,  of  teachers 255 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  345 


Average  wages  paid  male  teachers $54  ^^ 

"  "         "     female     "         3841 

-'        No.  of  months  taught 7-9 

Total  No.  of  children  in  county  between  6  and  21 ... 10,279 

"         "     "  pupils  enrolled    7^7  H 

"         "     bet.  12  and  3i  who  can  neither  read  nor  write.,  18 

"       amount  of  money  raised  for  school  purposes  from 

all  sources,  year  ending  Sept,  30,  1876 $122,008  38 

"  amount  ofmoijey  expended  for  all  school  purpo- 
ses for  year  ending  Sept.  30,  1876 990*^5   -^4 

In  this  connection  it  is  proper  to  mention  the  Mount  Zion  Acad- 
emy, which  was  erected  in  1856,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
John  Smith  and  other  leading  citizens  of  the  village  of  Mt.  Zion. 
The  first  officers  were:  Rev.  Daniel  Troughber,  President;  Geo. 
A.  Smith,  Secretary;  and  Hon.  Charles  Emerson,  J.  D.  Campbell, 
W.  C.  Moyers  and  John  Smith,  Trustees.  The  trustees  secured 
the  services  of  Rev.  P.  H.  Crider  as  first  principal.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  G.  W.  Kensolving,  and  he,  in  turn,  by  A,  J,  Mc- 
Glumphy,  D,  D.,  now  President  of  Lincoln  University,  Lincoln, 
Illinois.  The  school  was  prosperous  until  the  establishment  of  the 
latter  school,  soon. after  which  the  Mt.  Zion  Academy  went  down, 
and  is  beyond  all  hopes  of  resuscitation. 


246  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


CHAPTER    X 


BlOGRAPLICAL     SKETCHES     OF     EaRLY 

Settlers. 


BENJ.  R.  AUSTIN  was  born  in  Virginia,  March  26,  1802,  and 
removed  to  Macon  county  in  the  fall  of  1825.  He  was  a  surveyor, 
and  laid  out  the  original  town  plat  of  Decatur,  and  was  for  a  great 
many  vears  justice  of  the  peace.  He  married  Margaret  Warnick, 
who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  Februar}^  22,  1806.  Of  their  chil- 
dren— 

Jane  was  born  May  27,  1826;  William  was  born  Dec.  22,  1828; 
Nancy  C.  was  born  Sept.  15,  1830;  Perlina  was  born  Sept.  5, 
1832;  died  May  3,  1870;  Lucinda  was  born  Sept.  10,  1834;  died. 
Susan  was  born  Nov.  28,  1836;  died  March  5,  1837.  Margaret 
A.  was  born  Feb.  23,  1837;  Edmiston  was  born  Sept.  25,  1839; 
Geo.  W.  was  born  August  21,  1851. 

WM.  A.  AUSTIN  was  born  in  Virginia,  April  26,  1806,  and 
removed  to  Macon  county  in  1828,  where  he  married  Eleanor 
Warnick,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  January  23,  1810.  She  was 
a  daughter  of  Wm.  Wornick,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1S25; 
died  Nov.  16,  1853.     Of  their  children — 

Henrietta  was  born  Nov.   18,  1832.     Lettecia  J.  was  born 

July  3,  1834;  died  Sept.  20,  1835.     May  E.  was  born  May  3,  1836; 

died  June   13,  1840.     Joseph   was  born   Oct.  31,   1837.     Benj.  L. 

was  born  Nov.  26,  1839.  Geo.  W.  was  born  Aug.  21,  1841 ;  died  ISIay 

15,  i860.  Wm.  C.  was  born  Jan.  i,  1843.  Louisa  M.  was  born  Aug. 


HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY.  347 

II,  1S45;  died  August  21,  1845.  John  A.  was  born  July  19,  1846. 
Nancy  J.  was  born  April  32,  1849.  Lewis  N.  was  born  Feb.  35, 
1851.     Thomas  J.  was  born  Nov.  5,  1853. 

Mr.  A.  was  married  a  second  time,  August  12,  1853.  Children 
by  last  wife^ 

Kate  was  born  Jan.  12,  i86i.  Alain  W.  was  born  wSept.  13, 
1863.  Mary  E.  was  born  .Sept.  4,  1S67.  Infant  son  was  born 
Sept.  19,  1869;  died   Sept.  19,  1S70.     James  M. Was  born   May  4, 

1873- • 

JESSE  AUSTIN  was  born  May  3,  1S18,  in  Rutherford  county, 
Tenn.,  and  moved  to  Macon  county  in  1831;  was  married  in  1847 
to  Catharine  Faris.     Of  their  seven  children — 

Nancy  E.  was  born  July  2,  1848;  died  1853.  Joseph  H.  was 
born  Feb.  16,  1850.  Rosetta  A.  was  born  Sept.  14,  1851,  and 
was  married  to  Wm.  Getl,s,  March  24,  1870.  William  I.  was 
born  July  16,  1853.  Me,llissa  E.  was  born  August  25,  1862. 
Elizabeth  was  born  April  3,  1865.  Mary  J.  was  born  Oct.  3, 
1857. 

JOSIAH  ABRAMS  was  born  in  Ohio;  moved  to  Sangamon 
county  in  1822,  and  to  Macon  county  in  1829;  married  Nancy 
Davis.     Of  their  children — 

Levi  was  born  July  25,  iSoS;  married  Mayon  Moore.  Eliza- 
beth was  born  in  1810;  married  Dan.  Howell.  Henry  A.  was 
born  Oct.  I3,  1813;  married  Elizabeth  Primm.  Maria  J.  married 
Burdine  Church  (dead).  Delila  married  A.  J.  Sinclair.  Jemmi- 
MA  married  S.  R.  Wheeler.  James  married  Louisa  Johnson. 
Susan  married  Felix  Butler.     Francis  M.  » 

Capt.  DAVID  L.  ALLIN  was  born  in  Loudon  county,  \'a., 
March  14,  1806,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and 
located  where  James  C.  Lake  now  resides,  on  North  Water  street. 
There  was  at  that  time  a  small  cabin,  which  had  been  built  by 
Hubbell  Sprague,  standing  near  Mr.  Lake's  present  residence, 
which  was  regarded  as  a  country  residence.  Mr.  Allin  entered  from 
the  go\-ernment  the  east  half,  northwest,  section  14,  town  16,  3  east, 
which  now  embraces  about  one-fourth  of  the  city  of  Decatur,  and 
of  which  North  Water  street  was  the  western  line.  Mr.  A.  built 
the  second  water  mill  that  was  ever  built  in  the  coijnty,  in  1831-3, 
which  was  afterwards  sold  by  him  to  Robert  Maffit,  and  known 


34S  HISTORY'    OF    MACOX    COUNTY. 


for  many  years  as  Maffitt's  Mill.  Mr.  Allin  also  made  the  first 
lime  ever  manufactured  in  Macon  county,  at  the  "  old  lime  kiln," 
a  short  distance  southwest  of  Decatur,  on  the  river.  The  lime 
was  said  to  be  of  a  very  superior  quality,  and  a  great  deal  of  it  was 
hauled  to  Springfield,  and  used  for  finishing  purposes,  owing  to  its 
superior  quality.  In  September,  1830,  Capt.  Allin  married,  in 
Rutherford  county,  Tenn,  Miss  Julia  E.  Read,  who  was  born  in 
Charlotte  county,  Va. 

SAMUEL  C.  ALLEN  was  born  in  Loudon  count},  Va.,  Oct. 
3,  iSio;  left  Virginia  in  the  fall  of  1831;  came  on  horseback 
through  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  spent  the  winter  in 
Rutherford  county,  Tenn.,  and  came  to  Illinois  the  next  spring; 
lived  the  first  year  in  Sangamon  county;  moved  to  Decatur  the 
next. fall,  and  has  made  that  and  the  vicinity  his  home  ever  since. 
Was  married  to  Jane  E.  Reid,  Dec.  7,  1858,  (widow  of  Miner  Reid, 
and  daughter  of  Enos  Gore,  of  Adams  county,  Ohio.)  She  was  born 
in  Loudon  county,  Va.,  July  27,  1827.     Of  their  children — 

Edwin  Gore  was  born  May  27,  1S60.  Wm.  Lee  was  born 
Oct.  21,  1861.  Milton  James  was  born  Feb.  14,  1864;  died  Nov- 
ember 26,  1866.  Orvit.le  Reid  was  born  October  11,  1865. 
Frank  D.  was  born  Jan.  24,  1S68. 

Mr.  Allen  has  been  school  treasurer,  count}-  and  township  asses- 
sor, and  has  been  postmaster  since  his  removal  to  this  count}'.  He 
has  been  engaged  as  a  farmer  most  of  the  time,  but  was  in  the 
mercantile  business  several  vears. 

ALEXANDER  W.  BELL  was  born  in  East  Tennessee  in 
1812,  and.  came  to  Macon  county  in  1829,  and  located  in  what  is 
now  Mt.  Zion  townshijD;  was  married  fo  Mary  Montgomery,  who 
was  born  in  18 16,  in  Tennessee.  Mr.  Bell  was  a  member  of  the 
company  from  Macon  county  that  enlisted  in  the  Black  Hawk 
war.     Of  their  children — 

•  James  M.  was  born  April  17,  1848.  Maggie  L.  was  born 
April,  1851;  married  to  Geo.  T.  Outten.  Mattie  A.  was  born 
April  21,  1854;  married  to  J.  Edgar  Davis. 

SAMUEL  BRADEN  was  born  November  5th,  1769,  in  Ire- 
land, and  emigrated  to  America  the  year  peace  was  declared;  after 

remaining  in  Philadelphia  a  short  time  he  located  in county, 

South  Carolina,  where  he  married  Nancy  Young,  who  was  born  in 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  249 

the  latter  state,  near  Charleston,  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
(date  unknown).  They  removed  from  South  Carolina  to  Kentucky, 
and  thence  to  Tennessee,  and  from  the  latter  state  to  Macon  coun- 
ty, 111.,  in  September,  1S3S.  Mr.  B.  died  in  1833,  and  Mrs.  B.  in 
1842.     Of  their  three  children — 

Sidney  R,,  was  born  November  4th,  1814,  in  Tennessee;  re- 
moved to  Illinois  with  his  father,  and  returned  to  Tennessee  the 
following  year,  where  he  died  in  1830. 

John  Y.,  was  born  March  22,  18 18,  in  Tennessee;  was  married 
January  23d,  1840,  to  Laura  A.  Hunting,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, December  24,  18 19,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1840.  Of 
their  nine  children,  Sidney  R.  Braden  was  born  November  15, 
1840,  and  married  Jane  E.  Cox,  May  23,  1861,  and  died  January 
II,  1875,  of  wounds  received  at  Vicksburg  during  the  late  war. 
John  E.  Braden  was  born  September  26,  1842;  married  Mary 
E.  Bear,  October  31,  1875.  Alzina  P.  Braden,  born  December  3, 
1844;  maiTied  Charles  Nichols,  December  25,  1861;  died  Septem- 
ber 13,  1863.  Jerome  O.  Braden  was  born  February  13,  1847; 
married  Ella  Howerton,  December  15,  1873.  Thos.  J.  Braden, 
born  August  25,  1849.  Maryette  A.  Braden,  born  September  13, 
1851;  married  William  Biven,  April  27,  1871;  died  April  11,  1872. 
Flora  A.  Braden,  born  August  26,  1853;  married  William  L.  Bear, 
December  30,  1874.  George  A.  Braden,  born  September  29,  1S55. 
Cora  A.  Braden  was  born  November  8,  1857. 

George  M.,  was  born^in  1816  in  Tennessee,  and  removed  to 
Illinois  with  his  father.     He  died  in  1852.     Mary  Y. — (See  Miller.) 

JOHN  F.  BLANKENSHIP  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1801; 
married  to  Hannah  Wilson  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in 
1805,  and  is  now  living  in  this  county,  Mr.  B.  died  a  few  years 
ago.     Of  their  children — 

Francis  L,  was  born  March  6,  1827.  P.  W.,  was  born  January 
9,  1832.  J.  T.,  was  born  March  25,  1834.  Wm.  F.,  was  born 
August  15,  1S37.  George  A.,  was  born  January  4,  1840.  Nancy 
W.,  was  born  June  27,  1843.  Robert  L.,  was  born  September 
28,  1874;  died  1873. 

NEWTON  N.  BAKER  was  born  in  Lincoln  county.  North 
Carolina,  February  28,  1803;  moved  to  Rutherford  county,  Tenn., 
when  he   was   eleven  years  old,  and  moved  to   Macon  county  in 


250  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

1830  and  settled  5  miles  east  of  Decatur;  was  married  to  Tabitha 
J.  Hodge  in  1835,  and  died  May  27,  1872.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Orange  county,  North  Carolina,  in  1814,  who  came  to  Illinois  in 
1829,  and  settled  in  Sangamon  county,  remained  one  year  and  then 
removed  to  Macon  county;  she  is  still  living  in  Decatur.  Of  their 
children — 

AiMzi  H.,  was  born  in  1S36;  was  married  to  Anna  White,  in 
1867,  and  is  now  living  in  Decatur.  Mary  C,  was  born  in  1839; 
was  married  to  S.  C.  Davis,  in  1857,  and  is  still  living  in  this  coun- 
ty.    Joseph    N.,    was    born ,  and  is  now  living  in    Decatur. 

James  W.,  was  born ,  also  living  in  Decatur. 

WILLIAM  D.  BAKER  was  born  in  Lincoln  county.  North 
Carolina,  on  the  12th  of  September,  1800,  and  came  to  Macon 
county  in  the  fall  of  1828,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Long  Creek 
township.  Mr.  Baker  was  a  member  of  the  first  grand  jury  of 
the  county;  he  man-ied  in  Tennessee,  Marrila  Martin.  Their 
children  are  Matilda  L.,  wife  of  Andrew  Dennis,  Jas.  T.  Baker, 
Rev.  Wm.  P.  Baker  of  Grayville  in  White  county,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Smith  and  Rev.  N.  M.  Baker.  Mr.  Baker  was  one  of  the  few 
men  of  whom  in  a  long  life  no  one  can  say  ought  agcinst. 

JAMES  M.  BAKER  was  born  September  19,  181 1,  in  North 
Carolina,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1830;  was  married  to 
Arraanna  H.  Hodge,  who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  May 
15,  18 16,  and  removed  to  Macon  county  in  the  winter  of  1S30-31. 
Of  their  children — 

Robert  was  born  September  10,  1830.  S.  A.  E.,  was  born 
March  7,  1848;  married  to  James  Gregory,  and  died  in  March, 
1873. 

KIRBY  BENEDICT  was  born  November  25,  1810,  at  Kent, 
Connecticut,  and  was  married  to  Charlotte  G.  Curtis,  October 
23,  1834,  who  was  born  September  20,  1810,  in  Newton,  Connecti- 
cut; they  removed  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in  1835,  and  to 
Macon  county  in  March,  1S36,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  law,  and  remained  here  until  1849,  when  he  removed  to  Paris, 
Illinois;  in  the  fall  of  1853  he  was  appointed  by  President  Pierce 
as  one  of  the  associate  justices  of  the  territory  of  New  Mexico,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  for  three  years,  when  he  was  appointed 
chief  justice  of  the  same  territory,  which  position  he  held  until  his 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY.  .  25 1 

removal  by  Andrew  Johnson  in  the  winter  of  iS66.  After  this 
he  again  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  and  was  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  New  Mexico  Union,  until  he  died  on  the  28th  day 
of  February,  1S74.  Mr,  B.  held  the  office  of  probate  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Macon  county  from  1838  to  1842  and  was  the  third 
resident  practicing  lawyer  of  Macon  county  ;  he  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  afterwards  became  proficient  in  the 
French  and  Spanish  languages;  he  studied  law  with  Judge  Quit- 
man in  Natches,  Mississippi,  where  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Of 
their  children — 

Ophelia  C,  and  Laura  K.,  died  when  young.  Worthine 
C,  married  James  Smith  and  resides  near  Moweaqua,  Illinois  and 
Kirby  S.,  resides  at  Tuscola,  Illinois. 

RICHARD  H.  BRETT  was  born  in  Prince  Williams  county, 
Va.,  November  ist,  1772;  was  married  to  Margai'et  Lee,  Novem- 
ber 22,  1798,  who  v\^as  born  May  6,  1779-  They  moved  to  Macon 
county  in  1835.      Of  their  14  children — 

Margaret  was  born  Sept.  17,  1799;  died  i860.  Frances  was 
born  March  31,  iSoi ;  was  married  to  Jacob  Munch.  John  was  born 
May  17,  1802;  was  married  to  Sarah  Fergerson.  Jane  was  born 
March  29,  1804;  was  married  to  Reuben  Rogers;  she  is  now  dead. 
Mildred  was  born  December  14,  1S05;  married  to  George  Mont- 
gomery in  January,  1837,  and  has  since  died.  Penelope  was  born 
October  14,  1S08;  married  to  Franklin  Montgomery  in  1836. 
Sarah  was  born  July  13,  181 1.  George  E.  was  born  February 
4,  18 1 3,  and  died  in  November,  1835.  James  E.  was  born  October 
II,  1814;  died  July  3,  1833.  Mary  E.  was  born  March  21,  1816; 
was  married  to  John  Gulick  in  April,  1848;  she  is  now  dead. 
Daniel  was  born  December  21,  181 7;  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Wheeler,  February  4,  1S47.  Ann  M.  was  born  June  24,  1819; 
died  in  September,  1836.  Alexander  was  born  March  2,  1822; 
was  married  to  Rebecca  Hays,  who  afterwards  died;  he  then  was 
married  to  Martha  Cox.  Frederick  S-  was  born  January  3,  1S25, 
and  was  married  to  Martha  Montgomery. 

Mr.  B.  died ;  Mrs.  B.  died . 

DAVID  BARNWELL  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1S02, 
and  moved  thence  to  Davidson  county,  Tenn.,  where  he  married 
Elizabeth    Haddick,  who   was  about  the   same   age,   and   born  in 


t 

252  HISTORY  OF   MACOX  COUNTY. 


Tennessee.  They  removed  to  Illinois  in  1833,  and  first  settled  in 
what  is  now  Long  Creek  township.  Mr.  B.  died  in  1836  or  7,  in 
Fayette  county.  Mrs.  B.  died  about  1840,  in  Macon  county.  Of 
their  six  children — 

Alfred  A.  was  born  January  30,  1823,  in  Tennessee;  died  1871. 
Edward  A.  was  born  August  30,  1824,  in  Tennessee;  now  resides 
in  Cerro  Gordo.  Richard  G.  was  born  April  31,  1828,  in  Ten- 
nessee; resides  in  Idaho  Territory.  Almira  C.  was  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1829,  in  Tennessee;  married  Orrin  Foster,  and  now  resides 
in  LaBette  county  Kansas.  John  B.  was  born  May  19,  1832,  in 
Tennessee;  resides  in  Macon  county.  Nancy  E.  was  born  about 
1834;  died  in  infancy. 

MICAJAH  M.  BURKE  was  born  in  Kentucky,  April  6,  1804 
and  came  to  this  county  in  1834,  and  married  Lucy  A.  Pasly,  who 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  April  21,  1814.  Mr.  B.  died  May  26,  1863. 
Of  their  children — 

John  H.  was  born  March  29,  1835.  James  W.  was  born  No- 
vember 21,  1837.  Robert  Y.  was  born  May  5,  1840.  Thomas 
was  born  April  3,  1843.  Delpha  was  born  August  9,  1845.  Jo- 
seph was  born  February  20,  1S4S.  Lewis  B.  was  born  January  8, 
1851. 

WILLIAM  CANTRALL  was  born  in  Green  county,  Ky.,  Jan- 
uary 17,  iSoo;  came  to  Sangamon  county,  111.,  in  1825,  and  to  Ma- 
con county  in  1S33.  The  first  part  of  his  life  in  Illinois  was  spent 
in  selling  goods.  He  has  held  several  offices  of  trust  since  his  con- 
nection with  Macon  county.  Was  married  on  the  14th  of  Febru- 
ary, 182S,  to  Elizabeth  Hall,  who  was  born  in  1809,  and  died  in 
1 868.     Of  their  children— 

Thomas  was  born  in  November,  1829;  died  in  Washington  Ter- 
ritory. Jane  was  born  in  1831;  married  Dr.  Kellar,  who  now 
lives  in  Sullivan.  Mary  was  born  in  1835;  married  Dr.  Dillon  in 
1854;  they  now  reside  in  Adams  county.  Susan  was  born  in  1844; 
married  Harl  P.  Christie;  they  are  now  living  in  Decatur. 

Mr.  Cantrall  was  married  a  second  time,' August  19,  1869,  to 
Mrs.  Han,  who  was  born  in  the  State  of  Kentucky. 

EPHRAIM  COX  was  among  the  early  settlers  who  came  here 
about  1828  or  9.     We  have  no  record  of  the  fomily^^complete. 
George  M.   Cox  vya§  born  April  6,  1S30,  in  Macon  county, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  253 

and  married  Ellen  Downs,  who  was  horn  in  Ohio,  March  15,  1832. 
Of  their  children — 

Nancy  C.  was  born  October  34,  1S52;  married  John  Woods, 
December  17,  1873.  Mary  A.  was  born  February  27,  1854;  mar- 
ried John  A.  W.  Bell,  October  19,  1876.  William  H.  was  born 
March  8,  1856.  John  C.  was  born  April  5,  1858;  died  February 
23,  1862.  M.J.  was  born  August  16,  i860.  L.  A.  was  born  De- 
cember 24,  1863;  died  August  15,  1S64.  Ida  F.  was  born  April 
16,  1865.  George  E.  was  born  November  15,  1867.  Eda  A. 
was  born  February  22,  1S70;  died  February  26,  1S70.  S.  C.  was 
born  July  26,  187 1. 

Margaret  E.  was  born  March  14,  1833;  married  Cornelius 
Morris  in  184S,  who  was  born  November  6th,  1825.  Of  their 
children — 

Nancy  A.  was  born  February  28,  1S49;  died  December  9,  1861. 
Mary  E.  was  born  September  27,  1850;  married  November  19, 
1872,  to  C.  W.  Frew.  Margaret  M.  was  born  February  22,  1853. 
Lewis  J.  was  born  July  17,  1856;  died  November  12,  1875.  Thos. 
F.  was  born  April  23,  1861.  Amanda  E.  was  born  April  7,  1864. 
George  W.  was  born  July  i,  1867.  Ada  A.  was  born  June  27, 
1870.     Elmer  O.  was  born  May  8,  1872. 

Rev.  WM.  S.  CRISSEY  was  born  in  Connecticut,  April  21, 
181 1,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1831,  on  a  visit,  and  removed 
here  in  1834.  In  i S3 1-2,  Mr.  C.  was  upon  the  Tazewell  Circuit, 
which  included  a  very  large  territory,  viz :  Peoria,  Pekin,  Bloom- 
ington,  etc.  In  1832-3,  he  was  assigned  to  the  Jacksonville  Circuit, 
which  was  as  extensive  as  his  former  field  of  labors.  Of  the  expei-i- 
ences  of  circuit  rider  among  the  pioneers  of  Illinois,  Father  Crissey 
relates  some  very  amusing  instances.  He  has  been  a  close  observer 
of  men  and  events,  and  has  a  mind  well  stored  with  facts  gathered 
from  a  long  life  and  varied  experiences. 

CoL.  E.  D.  CARTER,  was  born  February  2,  18 14,  in  Logan 
county,  Ky.,  and  removed  thence  to  Shelbyville  in  1833,  ^"*^  thence 
to  Springfield  in  1836,  and  thence  to  Decatur  in  1838,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  married  Christina  Smick,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1812. 

JAMES  D.  CAMPBELL  was  born  June  26,  1803,  in  North 
Carolina;  removed    thence    to    Caldwell    county,    Kentucky,    and 


254  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


thence  to  Wayne  county,  Illinois,  in  1826;  thence  to  Sangamon 
county  in  1S2S,  and  to  Macon  county  in  1830.  He  married  in  Ken- 
tucky Lavina  Travis,  who  is  still  living.  Mr.  C.  was  a  member  of 
the  county  commissioners'  court,  and  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace.     He  died  in  1864.     Their  children  are — 

Matilda,  John  T.,  Margaret,  (married  Thomas  Warfield,)  David, 
Louisa,  (married  Wm.  Foly,)  and  Mary,  (married  Geo.  Schroll.) 

WILLIAM  COX  M^as  born  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1803;  was  married  to  Martha ,  July  3,  1832,  who  was 

born  April  14,  1806,  in  the  state  of  Virginia;  died  December  18, 
1867.     Of  their  children — 

Mary  Elizabeth  was  born  August  24,  1833;  was  married  to 
Harvey  Travis;  died  February  6,  1862.  Martha  Ann  was  born 
December  17,  1834.  Almeda  Virginia  was  born  May  7,  1837; 
was  married  to  Gilbert  McDaniel;  died  November  5,  1861.  Wil- 
liam Ephraim  was  born  July  15,  1838;  was  married  to  Ellen 
Traughber,  now  Hunt;  died  December  18,  1861.  Triphena  was 
born  November  5,  1840;  was  married  to  Thomas  Price;  died  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1862.  Emily  was  born  March  12,  1843;  ^^^^^  December 
27,  1861.  Charlotte  was  born  September  9,  1845;  was  married 
to  John  Miller,  and  now  resides  in  this  county.  Lucetta  was 
born  January  14,  1848;  was  married  to  Harvey  Epling,  and  now  re- 
sides in  Kansas. 

Dr.  IRA  B.  CURTIS,  the  17th  county  treasurer  of  Macon 
count}',  was  born  October  23,  1823,  in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  and 
moved  to  Sangamon  county,  111.,  in  1835,  and  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  county  since  1844,  excepting  seven  years  of  which  time  he 
was  a  resident  of  Christian  county.  He  was  a  physician  in  active 
practice  from  1846  until  1S62,  when  he  received  a  stroke  of  paraly- 
sis in  his  lower  limbs,  and  has  been  unable  to  walk  since,  which,  of 
course,  destroyed  largely  his  usefulness  in  his  profession.  In  1863 
he  was  elected  county  ti-easurer,  which  position  he  held  until    1869. 

JACOB  CAULK  was  born  November  5,   1S02;  was   married 

to  Mary ,  January  7,  1830,  who  was  born  January  22,  1804. 

Of  their  children — 

James  was  born  October  26,  1830;  died  September  5,  1833. 
Martha  was  born  February  19,  1832.  John  was  born  October 
13,   1833;  married  Malinda   Pound.     They   are   now  residents  of 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  255 


Decatur.  Albert  was  born  June  20.  1837;  supposed  to  have  died 
in  tlie  army.  Mary  was  born  November  19,  1839.  Sarah  was 
born  December  23,  1841.  Jacob  Caulk  and  wife  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  this  county;  neither  of  them  is  now  living. 

DAVID  DAVIS  was  born  in  Lincoln  ct)unty,  North  Carolina^ 
May  2,  1798.  At  the  age  of  17  he  emigrated  to  Rutherford  county, 
Tennessee.  In  1828  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  this  county. 
At  the  age  of  23  he  had  the  misfortune  to  become  paralyzed  in  his 
lower  extremities,  and  throughout  his  long  life  he  walked  with 
great  difficulty.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  was  ever  energetic,  and 
gathered  a  handsome  competence  for  himself,  and  provided  liberal 
means  for  beneficent  charities.  'He  died  August  19,  1875.  He  was 
once  county  treasurer  and  one  of  the  judges  of  the  first  election  held 
in  Macon  county.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Martin  September  28, 
1825,  who  was  born  in  Rutherford  county,  Tennessee,  November 
15,1806.     Of  their  children — 

Isabella  C.  was  born  August  17,  1S26;  was  married  to  Michael 
C.  Rozzell,  November  4,  1845.  William  M.  was  born  January 
14,  1831;  was  married  to  S.  J.  Nicholson  March  23,  1S54.  Syl- 
vester C.  was  born  June  8,  1834;  married  to  Mary  C.  Baker, 
September  3,  1857.  Milton  Z.  was  born  August  29,  1835;  mar- 
ried to  Emma  Eichinger,  September  3,  1865.  Mary  P.  was  born 
January  11,  1838;  married  to  Hiram  G.  Wheeler,  October  11,  1S55. 
Elizabeth  E.  was  born  September  6,  1841;  married  to  John 
Rucker,  December  28,  1858;  died  January  24,  1862.  John  L.  was 
born  December  22,  1842;  died  April  26,  1865.  Traughber  L^ 
was  born  March  2, 1845;  was  married  to  Mendosia  Houseman,  SejD- 
tember  25,  1873.  Marilla  A.  was  boru  Januarv  2,  1847;  ^^'^^ 
married  to  Thomas  J.  Odor,  SejDtember  28,  1869. 

WILLIAM  DICKEY,  Sr.,  was  born  May  6,  1764,  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  removed  thence  to  South  Carolina,  and  was  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war;  was  married  about  1790  to  Mary  Stephenson,  in 
North  Carolina,  who  was  born  March  26,  1774.  Of  their  chil- 
dren— 

Sarah  was  born  February  3,  1792;  died  same  year.  John  was 
born  January  4,  1793;  died  in  1847.  Martha  was  born  Septem- 
ber 9,  1795;  died   in    1837.     James  was   born  December  23,  1797; 

died .     Ed  A  was  born  June  6,  1800;  married  M.  Davis;  died 

1826.     Mary  was  born  November  14,  1802;  married  James  Cain. 


256  HISTORY  OF   MACON  COUNTY. 


William  was  born  March  9,  1805.  Sarah  was  born  January  5, 
1S07;  died  in  infancy.  Jesse  was  born  December  11,  1809,  mar- 
ried Mary  Brown.  Mathias  was  born  April  2,  1812;  died  1816. 
Andrew  was  born  November  15,  1814;  married  Ely  Russell. 

JOHN  DICKEY  was  born  in  1793,  and  came  to  Macon  county 
in  1829;  married  Martha  Stevenson;  was  killed  by  a  run-a-way 
team  in  1846  or  '7. 

WM.  DICKEY,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  Oct.  11,  1814, 
and  married  Isabella  Foster,  Nov.  30,  1837,  who  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee.    Mrs.  D.  died  May  30,  1852.     Of  their  children — 

John  B.  was  born  October  26^  1S38.  David  A.  was  born 
August  28,  1840;  died  July  22,  1864.  Martha  A.  was  born 
March  20,  1843;  married  J.  W.  Welton.  Abner  L.  was  born 
March  5,  1846;  married  E.  Mendenhall.  W.  M.  was  born  Jan- 
uary 14,  1849.  Mary  C.  was  born  May  8,  1851;  died  May  27, 
1S51. 

Mr.  Dickey  married  to  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Warner, 
October  19,  1852,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  August  25,  1828. 
Mr.  D.  died  January  17,  1875.     Of  their  children — 

Claretta  was  born  Feb.  19,  1855.  Sarah  J.  was  born  Dec. 
27,  1856.  Henry  E.  was  born  January  13,  1859.  Eliza  A.  was 
born  Februarv  17,  1S61 ;  died  August  30,  1862.  Geo.  B.  was  born 
September  20,  1862;  died  September  6,  1863.  Chas.  A.  was 
born  July  21,  1864.  Margaret  C.  was  born  November  21,  1866. 
Nancy  B.  was  born  February  15,  1869.  James  H.  was  born 
July  32,  1873. 

ALEXANDER  C.  DICKEY  was  born  February  22,  1818; 
married  Nancy  Foster. 

HARVEY  DICKEY  was  born  February  23,  1837;  married 
R.  Dowling. 

DAVID  DICKEY  was  born  March  19,  181 7,  in  Lovington 
county,  Ky.;  came  to  Macon  county  in  1829;  was  married  to  Mary 
Chambers,  Feb.  2,  1844,  who  was  born  February  27,  182 1;  died 
November  10,  1865.     Of  their  children — 

Mary  was  born  December  16,  1844;  died  October  i,  1859. 
Nancy  was  born  February  26,  1847;  ^^^^  September  16,  1847. 
James  was  born  April  12,  1851;  died  October  18,  1859. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  357 

Mr.  Dickey  was  married  a  second  time  to  Nancy  J.  Dike,  De- 
cember 22,  1870.  Their  only  child,  Maggie,  was  born  Sept.  17, 
1871. 

SAMUEL  DAVIDSON  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1774. 
From  South  Carolina  he  came  to  Southern  Illinois;  thence  to 
Macon  county  in  1830;  was  married  in  South  Carolina  to  Eliza- 
beth Mays,  who  was  born  in  the  latter  State  in  1776.  Mr.  D.  died 
in  1843,  and  Mrs.  D.  died  in  1844.     Of  their  children — 

John  was  born  in  1796;  died  in  1844.  Polly  was  born  in  1798; 
died  in  1840.  Andrew  was  born  in  1806;  died  in  1871.  Nancy 
was  born  in  1808.  Ella  J.  was  born  in  1810.  Elizabeth  was 
born  in  1813;  died  in  1833.  Qyntha  was  born  in  1816;  died  in 
1835.  Baxter  was  born  in  181 7;  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Har- 
baugh  in  1S42,  who  was  born  in  181 7;  died  in  1867.  Of  their 
children — 

D.  L.  was  born  in    1843;  married   in  1867   to  Virginia . 

John  A.  was  born   in  1845;  married  in    187 1    to    Maula . 

M.  R.  was  born  in  1848;  married  in  1874  to  Emma  Reeme,  who 
was  born  in  1S51.  Arminda  A.  was  born  in  1850.  Naoma  A. 
was  born  in  1856.     Mariah  F.  was  born  in  1859. 

Mr.  Davidson  was  married  the  second  time,  in  1869,  to  Lovina 
,  who  was  born  in  1835. 

JAMES  EDWARDS  was  born  in  1806,  near  Raleigh,  North 
Carolina.  When  a  young  man  he  came  to  Tennessee,  and  re- 
mained there  a  few  months;  then  removed  to  Illinois,  arriving  in 
Macon  county  in  the  fall  of  1827,  when  there  was  but  160  acres  of 
land  entered  upon  the  south  side  of  the  river.  He  was  accom- 
panied to  this  county  by  Dempsey  Pope  and  Jones  Edvs^ards — the 
latter  a  brother  of  his,  who  remained  12  or  15  years,  and  removed 
to  Iowa,  where  he  died.  James  E.  worked  the  first  year  after  he 
came  to  Illinois  for  John  Ward.  During  that  time  the  Indians 
made  some  threats  against  the  Wards,  and  Edwards  was  one  of  a 
company  of  I3  to  assist  in  driving  them  away.  A  few  more  In- 
dians made  their  appearance  in  the  vicinity  in  1828,  but  soon  left, 
and  were  followed  and  overtaken  in  the  prairie,  a  short  distance 
east  of  Mt.  Zion.  There  were  twelve  in  number,  besides 
the  squaws.  A  gun  was  taken  from  one  of  them^  after  a  severe' 
struggle,  by   Smith  Mounce,  of  the   Ward  company.     It  was   re- 

—33 


258  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

turned,  however,  by  order  of  John  Ward,  who  had  command  of 
the  expedition,  and  the  Indians  were  then  ordered  to  move  on, 
which  they  did.  This  was  the  last  appearance  of  the  Kickapoos, 
or  other  Indians,  in  Macon  county.  James  E.  was  married  to 
Nancv  L.  Hill,  in  the  winter  of  1830-31.  She  w^as  born  in  Meck- 
linburg  county,  Virginia,  June  22,  1806;  mo\'ed  to  Rutherford 
county,  Tenn.;  removed  to  Illinois  in  1829,  and  has  ever  since  re- 
sided in  this  county.     Of  their  children — 

Martha  E.  was  born  March  31,  1S34,  and  married  Abraham 
Lynch,  and  died.  Nancy  E.  was  born  January  26,  1836;  married 
John  D.  Smith,  and  died  on  the  nth  of  August,  1S69.  Jerome 
was  born  March  22,  1837,  and  married  Mary  J.  Stingly.  John 
was  born  September  9,  1838,  and  died  in  Indiana  on  the  12th  of 
September,  1S62.  Frank  was  born  January  4,  1S40,  and  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Henry  Edwards,  March  16,  1874.  Sarah  J.  was 
born  August  4,  1841,  and  died  March  20.  1854.  RuFUS  was  born 
January  i,  1S43.  Samuel  S.  was  born  June  22,  1844;  married  to 
Isabel  Allen,  December  24,  1873.  Ann  was  born  August  13,  1S46; 
was  married  to  Richard  Whitley,  in  October,  1862,  and  now  re- 
sides in  Vernon  county.  Mo.  Henry  was  born  AjDril  6,  1848; 
married  to  Elizabeth  Brown  in  1869,  and  died  on  the  7th  of  No- 
vember, 1872. 

HON.  CHARLES  EMERSON  was  born  in  North  Haverhill, 
Grafton  county,  New  Hampshire,  April  15,  iSii;  he  came  to  this 
state  in  the  year  1833  and  located  at  Jacksonville,  where  he  spent 
one  term  in  Illinois  College;  he  removed  thence  to  Springfield, 
Illinois,  and  studied  law  under  the  instruction  of  Judge  Keys;  on 
his  being  admitted  to  practice  law  he  canie  to  Decatur  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  spring  of  1S34;  in  1S41 
he  married  Nancy .  Harrell  who  died  December  16,  1866;  he 
remained  here  until  1847  and  then  went  to  Paris,  Edgar  county, 
where  he  remained  three  years,  returning  in  1850;  on  his  return 
he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  and  was  re-elected  in  185 1;  in 
June,  18^3,  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  circuit  court,  which  position 
he  filled  until  1867,  when  he  ran  forjudge  of  the  supreme  court 
but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority  by  Judge  Walker  now  of  the 
supreme  bench ;  he  then  resamed  practice  and  was  elected  to  the 
constitutional  convention  in  1869.  He  attended  the  early  part  of 
that  convention  but  was  sufTering  with  a  severe  cold  and  cough 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY 


259 


which   terminated   his   earthly   career,   on clay  of  April  1870. 

As  to  his  judicial  career  his  memory  needs  no  comment;  his  mind 
was  evenly  balanced  and  he  held  the  scales  of  justice  so  impartially 
that  few  dared  to  question  the  correctness  of  his  adjudications;  he 
seemed  to  be  absolutely  unbiased.  Though  he  was  a  man  of  strong 
convictions  predjudice  was  never  attributed  to  him  in  the  discharge 
of  his  judicial  duty.  Meanness  he  absolutely  detested,  yet  no  man 
was  brought  before  him,  however  serious  his  crime,  but  received  a 
fair  and  impartial  trial.  He  was  a  strong  party  man,  yet,  when  on 
the  bench  his  opponents  never  had  occasion  to  utter  one  word 
against  him  as  to  predjudice,  bias  or  partiality.  His  mind  was  broad 
and  grasping;  the  intricacies  of  the  law  he  could  comprehend 
readily,  and  solve  the  most  ditiicult  and  perplexing  questions  of  law 
and  fact  with  scarcely  a  moment's  reflection.  He  had  the  power  of 
presenting  his  views  succinctly  and  in  such  a  way  that  those  who 
heard  him,  in  making  a  decision,  at  once  acknowledged  the  justness 
and  correctness  of  his  position  in  the  matter  in  question.  He  was 
charitable,  his  hands  being  open  on  all  occasions  to  succor  distress, 
to  encourage  enterprise,  and  support  good  institutions.  He  was 
modest  and  unafl:ected  and  possessed  not  one  particle  of  personal 
vanity ;  "he  had  no  desire  for  display,  and  no  ambition  for  admira- 
tion." He  made  no  effort  to  win  attention  in  conversation  or  argu- 
ment, beyond  what  the  occasion  absolutely  required ;  what  he  said 
was  always  well  said,  because  it  was  always  from  a  full  mind  ac- 
customed to  deep  reflection.  He  never  obtruded  his  opinions  upon 
others,  but  brought  them  out  only  as  they  were  sought,  and  then 
with  clearness  and  earnestness.  To  the  casual  observer,  or  on  first 
introduction  he  was  thought  to  be  cold  and  reserved;  but  he  was 
neither  the  one  or  the  other.  He  had  great  simplicity  of  manner, 
dress  and  deportment,  but  his  simplicity  was  never  accompanied 
with  want  of  perception  of  what  was  right  and  fit  for  the  occasion. 
The  first  impression  of  a  stranger  was  that  of  disappointment;  it 
hardly  seemed  credible  that  such  simplicity  should  be  accompanied 
with  his  known  position  and  reputation  in  life.  The  consciousness  of 
power  was  not  there;  "there  was  no  play  of  lights  and  shades  of 
rank  ;  no  study  of  effect  in  tone  or  bearing."  He  never  thought  of 
himself  and  the  air  of  office  was  not  there.  What  was  said  of  the 
great  Marshall  may  with  equal  truth  be  said  of  Judge  Emerson : 
"after   all  what   mav  be  said  of  his  fame  in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 


36o  HISTORY    OF    MASON    COUXTY. 

that  which  in  a  just  sense  was  his  highest  glory,  was  the  purity, 
affectionateness,  liberalit}-  and  devotedness  of  his  domestic  life.  At 
home  he  indulsred  himself  in  what  he  most  loved,  the  duties  and 
blessings  of  the  family  circle.  There  his  heart  had  full  play.  There 
the  sunshine  of  his  soul  diffused  its  soft  radiance  and  cheered  and 
soothed  and  tranquilized  the  passing  hours."  The  writer  has  seen 
him  in  the  family  circle  surrounded  by  his  children,  so  completely 
absorbed  in  their  childish  pranks,  that  he  seemed  almost  oblivious 
to  all  passing  events;  to  them  he  was  kind  and  affectionate,  and 
indulgent  to  a  fault,  almost.  In  his  public  character  he  was  upright 
and  conscientious.  He  would  not  do  what  he  thought  to  be  wrong 
no  matter  how  popular  or  pressing  was  the  public  clamor;  he 
would  not  shrink  from  what  he  thought  right  though  he  might 
stand  alone  in  his  position.  In  this  he  was  as  firm  as  a  rock.  On  one 
occasion,  having  made  a  decision,  he  was  reminded  that  the  su- 
preme court  had  decided  directly  the  contrary  doctrine:  "I  know 
that,"  he  replied,  "but  they  are  wrong  and  I  am  right,  and  I  will 
p-ive  them  one  more  chance  to  correct  their  error."  He  loved  the 
law,  not  as  a  trade,  but  as  science:  he  disdained  to  mislead  the  court, 
the  jury  or  his  client;  the  practice  of  law  was  to  him  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  pi-inciples  of  right  and  justice,  rather  than  the  tempo- 
rary success  his  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  practice  might  give  him. 
He  resorted  to  no  technicalities  for  success.  His  treatment  of  his 
brethren  at  the  bar  was  kind  and  courteous,  whether  practicing 
with  them  or  while  on  the  bench.  To  the  younger  members  of  the 
bar  he  was  a  friend  indeed,  and  was  never  known  to  take  advantage 
of  their  inexperience  that  he  might  show  his  own  strength  and 
knowledge,  as  some  petty  judges  delight  to  do.  He  was  studious, 
and  his  judicial  learning  was  above  the  ordinary  judges  of  our 
courts,  yet  the  original  bias  as  well  as  choice  of  his  mind  was  to 
general  principles  and  comprehensive  views,  rather  than  technical 
and  recondite  learning.  In  his  character,  in  his  family  circle,  in  his 
practice,  in  his  judicial  career,  in  all  the  varied  stations  in  life,  he 
was  a  model  worthy  of  emulation,  not  perfect  and  without  blemish, 
but  his  better  characteristics  so  far  exceeding  the  imperfections  and 
blemishes,  that  the  latter  were  almost  unobserved.  Of  their  child- 
ren— 

Albert   was  born   February   5,    1842,  and    is   now   residing  in 
Monticello,  Piatt   county,   Illinois.    Jerome   was  born  December 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  261 


25,  1846,  and  is  now  living  at  Clarinda,  Iowa.  Joseph  was  born 
September  21,  1850;  is  now  living  in  Lake  City,  Moultrie  county, 
Illinois.  Elizabeth  was  born  November  3,  1852,  and  married 
S.  H.  Record,  of  Charleston,  Illinois,  where  she  now  resides. 
Laura  M.  was  born  February  11,  1S55,  and  died  January  13,  1S76. 
Leora  M.  was  born  April  1 1,  1857,  and  now  resides  in  Decatur. 
Lucy  A.  was  born  April  13,  1859,  and  now  resides  in  Charleston, 
Illinois. 

GEORGE  W.  FALCONER  was  born  in  1777,  in  Frederick 
countv,  Maryland,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1S39,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 6,  1856.     His  children  were — 

Jeremiah,  Anna,  Eliza,  Enoch  G.  and  Mary. 

JOHN  FALCONER  was  born  January  21,  1830,  in  Frederick 
county  Maryland,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1839. 

JEROME  R.  GORIN  was  born  in  Hopkinsville,  Kentucky, 
October  12,  1817,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1S28  and  settled  at  Van- 
dalia,  Illinois;  he  removed  thence  to  Macon  county  in  1833;  he 
married  in  Decatur,  April  1,1845,  Miss  Eleanor  E.  D.  Fawcett 
who  was  born  February  iS,  1824.  in  Jefferson  county,  Virginia. 
Mr.  G.  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1843,  but  has  been  engaged  for 
several  years  past  in  the  banking  business  in  the  firm  of  J.  Milliken 
&  Co. 

DR.  B.  W.  GORIN  was  born  in  Christian  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1S38,  and  came  from  there  to  Vandalia,  in  this  state,  where  he 
remained  until  1831,  when  he  removed  to  Shelbyville  and  thence 
to  Decatur,  and  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  re- 
mained here  but  two  vears,  and  then  went  to  Louisiana,  Mo.,  where 
he  died  in  1874. 

HENRY  M.  GORIN  was  born  in  Christian  county,  Kentucky 
in  1812,  and  removed  thence  to  Vandalia,  Illinois;  he  came  to  De- 
catur, Illinois,  in  1S32,  and  remained  until  the  year  1841;  he  was 
at  one  time  circuit  clerk  and  county  clerk  of  Macon  county;  after 
removing  to  Missouri  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  in  his  county;  his  records  kept  by 
him  bear  evidence  of  his  carefulness  and  pains  taking. 

JACOB  HOSTETTER  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky, 
July  6,  1810;  married  Tabitha  Crum  in  March,  1835,  and  came  to 


262  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY, 


Macon  county  in  1835,  where  he  died  in  1S73  of  smallpox.   Mrs.  H. 
was   born   in   Oldham   county,   Kentucky,  November  4,  rSi6.     Of 
their  children — 

Francis  M.  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  February  3, 
1835;  "lai'i'ied  Elizabeth  Wykel,  1S57.  Mary  J.  was  born 
October  15,  1836  and  married  Jane  C.  Campbell,  March  8,  1865. 
Malinda  E.  was  born  August  31,  1838;  married  Charles  E. 
HuNSLEY,  October  35,  1865. 

JAMES  HERREL  was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Kentucky, 
August  29,  18 1 3,  where  he  remained  until  1S34,  when  he  removed 
to  Macon  county  and  remained  two  years;  returned  to  Kentucky, 
thence  to  New  Orleans;  thence  to  Florida,  as  teamster  in  the  war 
against  the  Seminole  Indians;  returned  to  MacOn  county  in  1839, 
where  he  married  Mary  Miller,  November  26,  1S40.  Of  their  chil- 
dren— 

Albert  G.  was  born  January  6,  1843;  married  S.  J.  Miller. 
Tabitha  was  born  July  6,  1844;  died  February,  1845.  Eliza- 
beth A.  was  born  October  iS,  1845;  died  June,  1846.  George 
W.  was  born  October  8,  1S47.  Francis  M.  was  born  June  14, 
1850;  dead.     James  C.  was  born  January  27,  1853;  dead. 

JOHN  HANKS,  once  the  old  friend  and  associate  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln, was  born  in  Kentucky  about  18^2,  and  come  to  Illinois  in 
1826  or  '27,  and  settled  on  Stevens'  creek;  he  married  in  Kentucky, 
Susan'Wilson,  who  was  about  the  same  age  as  Mr.  H.,  and  who 
died  in  1861.     Of  their  children — 

William,  who  lives  in  Piatt  county,  and  Lewis,  who  lives  in 
Oregon,  were  both  born  in  Kentucky.  Jane  was  born  January 
15,  I  S3 1,  in  Illinois,  and  married  to  A.  T.  Metlin,  who  was  born  in 

1830,  in  Pa.     Emily,  born  in  1833,  in  -Illinois,  married  to  Lo- 

mis,  and  resides  at  Minonk.  Phelix,  dead.  Grason,  resides  in 
Missouri.     Levi  resides  in  Macon  county. 

JAMES  HOWELL  was  born  in  1802,  in  Galleo  county,  Ohio, 
and  removed  to  Macon  county  in  1831,  having  been  in  the  state 
five  years.     His  wife  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1803. 

Their  children  were  Mary,  William  T.,  Emily,  Nancy,  Charles  D., 
Brice  A,,  John,  Elizabeth. 

WILLIAM  HOWELL,  DANIEL,  JOSEPH  and  ISAAC, 
were  brothers  of  James,  and  came  to  Macon  county  early. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  263 

DOLLISTON  HEFTON  was  among  the  very  early  settlers 
of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the  old  "forty  gallon  Baptist"  preach- 
ers, and  had  a  sing-song  tone  to  his  preaching  that  was  truly  won- 
derful. From  the  recollection  of  one  of  his  hearers,  we  are  enabled 
to  give  a  small  extract  from  a  sermon  delivered  by  Mr.  H.  over  40 
years  ago,  which  illustrates  the  peculiar  ah's  and  ideas  of  which  his 
sermons  abounded.  "  My  respected  brethren-ah,  hell-ah  is  like 
takin'  a  pillow-slip  of  corn-ah  and  wadin'  the  snow-ah  and  rain-ah, 
and  goin'  to  Jim  Wheeler's  mill-ah,  and  gettin'  it  ground-ah  to 
make  mush -ah!  You  grind  and  grind  and  grind-ah!  Brethren-ah, 
that' is  hell-ah.  But,  my  hearers-ah,  there  is  another  good  place-ah, 
which  we  all  expect  to  go  to-ah,  and  when  we  get  there-ah,  will  feast 
forever-ah  on  spare-ribs,  biscuits  and  cofFee-ah,  and  that's  the  place  we 
call  heaven-ah."  Mr.  Hefton  kept  store  at  Mt.  Gillead  for  a  while, 
and  had  his  family,  household  goods  and  merchandise  all  in  one 
room.  His  stock  of  goods  consisted  of  a  barrel  of  pale  whisky,  that 
would  freeze  up  in  winter,  a  small  quantity  of  tin-ware,  and  a  few 
dollar's  worth  of '  sugar  and  coffee.  One  day  some  one  offered  to 
buy  his  entire  stock  of  tin-ware  at  a  given  price,  but  he  refused  to 
sell,  because  it  would  "break  his  stock." 

JAMES  HERREL  was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Ky.,  in  1S13; 
came  to  Illinois  in  1833  or  '4,  and  settled  in  Decatur;  remained 
there  until  1S40,  when  he  removed  to  the  place  where  he  now 
lives,  about  4  miles  west  of  town.  He  was  married  to  Mary  Mil- 
ler in  1S40,  who  was  born  April  22,  1811. 

Albert  G.,  son  of  J.  and  M.  Herrel,  was  born  in  1843,  ^"^  now 
resides  in  this  county. 

JOSEPH  HOSTETLER  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Ky., 
February  27,  1797.  His  father  and  grandfather  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  great-grandfather  was  born  in  Germany,  near 
the  river  Rhine. 

Joseph's  mother,  Agnes,  was  the  daughter  of  Anthony  Hard- 
man,  of  whose  ancestry  nothing  is  known,  Mr.  Hostetler  com- 
menced preaching  according  to  the  "Yunker  Doctrine,"  about  the 
year  1815.  In  1816  he  was  married,  and  the  same  year  authorized 
to  preach  by  the  Yunker  church.  In  1S17  he  moved  to  Washing- 
ton county,  Ind.,  and  remained  there  two  years.  He  then  moved 
to   Orange  county,  in  the  same  State,  remaining  there  until   1832, 


264  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

when   he   moved   to   Illinois,  settling    in  this  county,  not   far   frorg 
Decatur. 

In  1828,  he,  with  others,  renounced  all  "  creeds,"  "confessions  of 
faith,"  and  took  his  stand  with  the  Church  of  Christ,  or  Christian 
church.  After  he  came  to  Illinois  he  performed  much  hard  labor 
as  a  pioneer  minister,  as  well  as  a  pioneer  farmer. 

In  October,  1S32,  he  organized  a  church  in  his  neighborhood,  of 
fourteen  members.  The  same  church  is  still  in  existence,  having 
at  present  over  one  hundred  members.  In  1S33  he  organized  in 
Decatur  the  Church  of  Christ,  which  exists  to-dav.  In  the  fol- 
lowing  year  he  inoved  to  Decatur,  and  commenced  the  practice  of 
medicine,  in  connection  with  his  preaching.  In  1S36  he  returned 
to  Indiana,  and  settled  on  an  unimproved  farm  near  Bedford,  Law- 
rence county.  In  1S43  he  moved  to  Sheboyagan  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, where  he  opened  a  farm  in  heavy  timber  land,  and  here,  too, 
he  continued  to  preach  and  practice  medicine.  In  1855  he  re- 
moved to  Salem,  Washington  county,  Ind.  Here  he  was  engaged 
principally  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  1S61  he  moved  to  Lo\- 
ington,  Moultrie  county,  Illinois.  During  all  this  time  he  was  in- 
cessantly engaged  in  preaching  or  practicing  medicine.  On  the 
27th  day  of  August,  1S70,  he  died,  at  his  residence,  near  Loving- 
ton.  His  disease  was  a  functional  derangement  of  the  heart.  He 
was  a  heavy  built  man,  weighing  about  two  hundred  pounds;  was 
five  feet  eight  inches  high,  and  seemed  to  bear  the  weight  of  years 
with  remarkable  firmness  and  strenirth. 

ANDREW  HAMILTON  was  born  May  31,  1806;  came  to 
Macon  county  in  1830;  married  Margaret  Hall  in  1S29.  Of  their 
children — 

John  W.  was  born  December  9,  1830;  married  to  Amelia 
Clements.  Robert  G.  was  born  January  20,  1832;  died  Febru- 
ary 21,  1832.  Martha  F.  was  born  February  21,  1833;  died  Jan- 
uary 21,  1837.  Alfred  C.  was  born  June  ^,  1835;  died  April  27, 
1876.  Margaret  S.  w^as  born  January  12,  1838;  died  December 
18,  1S60.  Mary  S.  was  born  October  20,  1840;  died  November 
20,  1840.  Emily  H.  was  born  April  17,  1S42;  married  N.  Boles. 
A.  L.  was  born  January  4, 1844;  ^^'^d  December  4,  1844.  Mary  J. 
was  born  May  9,  1849;  died  Februar}'  12,  1S73. 

ULYSSES  HUSTON  was  born  August  25,  1824,  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio;  came  to  Macon  county  in  the  month  of  November, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  265 

^836;  married  to  Matilda  McCoy,  Feb,  25,  1847,  who  was  born 
May  19,  1825,  in  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  and  came  to  Macon 
county  in  1840.     Of  their  children — 

Phebe  was  born  January  5,  184S;  was  married  to  Robert  M. 
McCoy,  November  5,  1866.  John  was  born  October  13,  1849; 
died  April  14,  1856.  Robert  was  born  August  22,  1852.  Orus 
B.  was  born  January  3,  1856.  Martha  M.  was  born  February 
18,  1859.  Emily  J.  was  born  January  7,  1862.  William  N.  was 
born  March  2,  1865.  Mary  E.  was  born  December  12,  1868. 
All  of  which  now  reside  in  Macon  county. 

SAMUEL  HORNBACK  was  born  May  8,  1808,  in  Bath 
county,  Ky.,  and  was  married  September  2,  1S30,  to  Margaret 
Johnson,  who  was  born  February  24,  1811,  in  the  same  county  and 
State.  They  removed  to  Macon  county  in  September,  1830.  Of 
their  nine  children — 

Abraham  was  born  February  5,  1835.  Letha  Ann  was  born 
December  16,  1835;  ^^^  married  December  17,  1856,  to  Geo.  W. 
Schroll.  Isaac  was  born  July  26,  1838;  married  to  Martha  Hide, 
December  20,  1858.  Nancy  J.  was  born  October  23,  1841;  mar- 
ried to  Wm.  Gepford,  August  22,  1865.  Samuel  C.  was  born 
January  i,  1844;  married  to  Margaret  Vice,  May  6,  1866.  Mar- 
garet was  born  December  12,  1846;  married  to  George  Houser, 
November  23,  1865.  Eliza  A.  and  Lou  Ann,  twins,  were  born 
February  5,  1S50.    Jno.  W.  was  born  August  15,  1853. 

ROBERT  JOHNSON  was  born  in  Bath  county,  Ky.,  March 
3,  1807.  Was  married  to  Lou  Ann  Church  April  5,  183 1,  who 
was  born  July  13,  181 3.  They  moved  to  Macon  county  in  October, 
1 83 1.     They  have  no  children. 

Dr.  JOSEPH    KING  was  born  in    1810,  and  came  to  Macon 

county  in    1839,  and   married Packard.     At   that   time   there 

were  but  two  or  three  physicians  in  the  county,  Drs.  Read  and 
Spear.  Dr.  Rogers  came  here  in  1840,  and  remained  a  few  years. 
Dr.  K.  received  his  medical  education  in  Cincinnati,  O.,  and  soon 
after  his  arrival  had  an  extensive  practice,  and  was  often  called 
upon  to  ride  25  or  30  miles  to  see  a  patient.  The  Doctor  relates 
some  very  amusing  incidents  connected  with  the  early  practice  in 
the  county,  and  some  that  were  not  so  amusing  to  the  participants; 

—34 


266  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


such  as  being  lost  on  the  large  prairies,  and  riding  all  night  in  the, 
cold,  when  the  wolves  were  uncomfortably  thick.  The  Doctor 
says  he  was  always  afraid  of  the  wolves,  and  retains  a  distinct  recol- 
lection of  the  vigorous  barking  of  these  creatures  as  he  would  be 
out  riding  late  at  night,  perhajDS  miles  from  any  habitation. 

ALFRED  LAYMONS  was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Ky., 
September  23,  1808,  and  removed  to  Macon  county  in  1829,  where 
he  married  Rhoda  P.  Shepherd,  as  his  first  wife,  who  was  born  in 
Virginia,  December  28,  181 3,  and  died  September  27,  1836.  Of 
their  two  children —  * 

Henderson  M.  was  born  April  15,  1833;  died  June,  1867. 
W,  W.  was  born  March  14,  1835;  '^^^^  February,  1870. 

Mr.  Laymons'  second  wife  was  Jane  Manly,  who  was  born  in 
Grayson  county,  Ky.,  August  10,  1815,  and  died  December  31, 1858. 
Of  their  children — 

Margaret  A.  was  born  May  22,  1839;  died  December,  1839. 
Sarah  E.  was  born  Nov.  3,  1840;  died  May  i,  1871.  Jno.  A. 
was  born  October  5,  1842;  died  January,  1870.  Jackson  M.  was 
born  January  9,  1S47.  Mary  A.  was  born  October  10,  1849. 
Nancy  E.  was  born  June  27,  1S54;  died  July,  1854. 

Rev.  ALONZO  LAPHAM  was  born  in  New  Hampshire, 
May  29,  1797.  He  moved  to  Vermont;  afterwards  to  Indiana, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with,  and  in  1828  married,  Margaret 
Anderson.  He  came  to  Macon  county  at  a  very  early  date,  when 
there  were  but  two  houses  in  the  city  of  Decatur,  and  soon  after- 
wards engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  Lapham  was  an  ordained  minis- 
ter in  the  Methodist  church,  and  assisted  a  great  deal  in  the  organ- 
ization of  churches  in  Central  Illinois.  Of  the  children  of  Alonzo 
and  Margaret — 

Mary  J.  was  born  October  iS,  1829;  was  married  to  David  M. 
Thornby,  February  22,  1849,  and  are  now  living  near  Salt  Creek. 
John  W.  was  born  December  18,  1832;  was  married  to  Maria 
Hammond.  He  is  now  engaged  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  in 
the  M.  E.  church.  Truman  C.  was  born  August  28,  1835;  was 
married  to  Jennie  Downs,  of  Shelbyville,  Illinois,  January  6,  1863. 
He  is  now  engaged  as  a  book  and  music  merchant  in  Shelbyville, 
Illinois,  Wm.  W.  was  born  March  7,  1836;  was  married  to  Mary 
J.  Crowder,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,   March   7,  1S61.     He    is   now 


HISTORY  OF  MACON  COUNTY.  267 

engaged  in  the  wholesale  music  store  of  Story  and  Camp,  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  Martin  A.  was  born  January  2,  1841 ;  was  married 
to  Frances  Frazier,  of  Danville,  Illinois,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
was  for  a  time  \ice-president  of  Quincy  College,  and  receiving 
officer  of  the  Fort  of  New  Orleans.  A.  Milton  was  born  August 
II,  1843.  He  has  been  engaged  as  a  photographer,  real  estate  and 
insurance  agent  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  where  he  now  resides. 

GEO.  POWERS  was  born  in  Charleston,  Saratoga  county, 
N.  Y.,  January  17,  1S14;  was  married  to  Almira  A.  Giles,  in  Ala- 
bama, April  30,  1S40,  who  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Mass. 
They  removed  to  Macon  county  in  1839.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  soon  after  his  arrival,  and  was  elected  to  the  State  vSenate  in 
1S44.  He  held  other  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  and  died  in 
1849,  leaving  three  daughters:  Emma,  who  married  John  K. 
Warren;  Sarah  A.,  who  married  Geo.  S.  Durfee,  and  Ada,  who 
married  E.  D.  Bartholomew. 

ROBERT  LAW  was  born  in  Wilson  county,  Tenn.,  in  No- 
vember 1807,  and  moved  to  Macon  county  in  1830 — having  been 
here  the  year  previous  to  see  the  country.  He  was  out  with  the 
rangers  in  the  Black-Hawk  war,  under  Captain  Warnick.  He 
built  the  old  horse-mill  at  Whitehouse's,  in  Mt.  Zion  township,  in 
1836-7,  near  where  Mr.  L.  now  resides. 

JAMES  LAW,  John  Law  and  Rose  Ann,  all  came  here  about 
the  same  time.  They  were  brothers  and  sister  of  Robert;  John  is 
dead. 

JOHN  LOWRY  was  born  in  1803,  in  Green  county,  Tenn.; 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Drennan  in  1825.  They  removed  to 
Macon  county  in  1S34.     Of  their  children — 

James  A.  was  born  in  1826  or  7.  Wm.  A.  was  born  in  182S. 
Jackson  C,  was  born  in  1830.  Charles  D.  was  born  in  1S32. 
Mary  P.  was  born  in  1837. 

ELDRIDGE  H.  McDANIEL  was  born  November  25,  1807, 
and  married  Mary  Pope,  September  5,  1826.  They  came  to  Macon 
county  in  1827,  and  resided  here  until  their  death.  Mr.  M.  died 
June  29,  1859,  and  Mrs.  M.  died  August  26,  1871.  They  raised  a 
large  family  of  children,  the  ages  of  which  we  cannot  give. 


268  HISTORY  OF  MACON  COUNTY. 


Elizabeth  married  Aaron  Widick ;  both  dead.  Salamanda 
married  Thomas  Lord.  Leacy  married  Jeremiah  Turpin;  dead. 
Wm.  G.,  Dempsey,  Thomas,  (dead,)  and  John  A.  B. 

CHRISTOPHER  MILLER  was  born  in  South  CaroHna 
about  1789;  moved  with  parents  to  Kentucky,  where  he  married 
EHzabeth  Hays  in  1808.  He  removed  thence  to  Macon  co.unty  in 
1829,  where  he  died  in  1855.  Mrs.  M.  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
Hna in  179 1 ;  removed  thence  to  Grayson  county  Va.,  and  thence  to 
Grayson  county,  Ky.,  where  she  was  married,  and  came  with  her 
husband  to  Macon,  where  she  is  still  living.  Of  their  11  children, 
we  can  give  ages  of  but  three — 

William  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1809.  Mary  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  181 1.     James  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1813. 

JAMES  MILLER  was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Kentucky, 
August  26,  1813;  removed  to  Macon  county  in  1829  and  married 
Margaret  Hostetler,  of  Moultrie  county,  who  died  in  1852;  he 
married  a  second  time,  in  1853,  to  Elizabeth  Miller.  By  his 
first  wife  there  were  born  nine  children — 

A.J.  was  born  July  24,  1836.    W.  G.  was  born  August  20,  1839, 

(no    record    of  others).     By   his   second   wife— Jane  W.  v\^as  born 

June  4,  1853;  married  J.  A.  Vangundy.     Wm.   H.  was  born  Aug. 

II,  1855;  died  September  30,  1856.    George  W.  was  born  Septem- 

10,  1857;  died  December ,  1S62. 

■  DxWID  MILLER  was  born  December  27,  1790,  and  married 
as  his  first  wife  Mary  Muirhead,  who  was  born  July  17,  1808. 
Mrs.  M.  died  September  19,  1832.     Of  their  children — 

James  D.  was  born  October  10,  1828.  William  M.  was  born 
February  18,  1830;  died  March  20,  1831.  Thomas  E.  B.  was 
born  February  9,  1832;  died  February    10,   1844. 

He  was  married  a  second  time  to  Mary  Y.  Wheeler,  widow 
of  Henry  Wheeler  (See  Wheeler)  by  whom  the  following  children 
were  born.     Mr.  M.  died  October  6,  1853. 

Margaret  T.  was  born  July  3,  1835.  Elvira  V.  was  born 
January  25,  1837;  died  February  29,  1844.  May  H.  was  born 
July  12,  1838.  George  S.  was  born  July  26,  1840.  John  H.  was 
born  August  8,  1841 ;  died  September,  1841.  Tryphosa  was 
born  May  14,  1843;  died  September  17,  1844.  Lavenia  M.  was 
born  July  28,  1844.       Lucetta  and  Genett  were  born  February 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  369 

26,  1S4S;  the  latter  died  March  12,  1848.  Daniel  was  born  March 
30,  1849.     Harrett  a.  was  born  March  30,  1853. 

WILLIAM  MUIRHEAD  was  born  in   Rockingham  county, 

Virginia,  in  ;  he  came   to   this   state   in    1830  and  settled  at 

Wykles  Place,  4  miles  west  of  Decatur,  where  he  died.  He  had 
5  children,  to-wit: 

Elizabeth,  who  married  Thomas  Strain  and  moved  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Clinton,  Illinois,  and  died  there.  Andrew  S., 
who  was  born  in  1S04,  and  came  here  with  his  father.  We  are 
unable  to  give  names  and  ages  of  the  other  children. 

EDMUND  McDANIEL  was  born  February  13,  1800,  in  Ogle- 
thorpe county,  Georgia,  and  removed  to  Robertson  county,  Tenn., 
thence  to  Vandalia,  111.,  and  thence  to  Macon  county,  in  1826.  He 
was  married  in  Kentucky,  to  Margaret  Widick,  who  was  born  Jan-  « 
uary  10,  1800,  in  Virginia,  and  died  November  2,  1874.  Mr.  M. 
was  upon  the  first  grand  jury  in  this  county,  and  would  make  at 
the  present,  a  very  efficient  foreman.     Of  their  children — 

Joseph,  born  in  Tenn.,  June  25,  1S21 ;  married  Kittie  K.  Wilson, 
who  was  born  January  21,  1827,  in  Tennessee.    Of  their  children — 

Margaret  J.  was  born  .September  12,  1S44;  married  R.  B.  Wil- 
son. David  S.  was  born  January  3,  1S47.  Enoch  was  born 
July  18,  1849;  married  C.  Hammers.  Mary  E.  was  born  July  28, 
1854;  married  John  L.  Smith,  January  10,  1877. 

William  W.  was  born  August  11,  1820,  in  Tennessee;  married 
Asenith  ,  who  was  born  May  15,  1831.     Of  their  children — 

W.  E.  was  born  October  8,  1850.     S.  C.  was   born    March   18, 

1853.     Joseph  H.  was   born    February    10,   1855.     E.  Y.  was  born 

June  23,  1857.     M.  F.  was  born   September  18,   1859.     A.  A.  was 

born  December  23,  1862.     H.  D.  and  R.  C.  were  born  January  18, 

1865.    J.  B.  was  born  March  4,  1S69. 

Emanuel  was  born  in  Macon  county,  May  27,  1827,  and  mar- 
ried Caroline  Hill.  Their  children  are  Margaret,  Benjamin,  Al- 
bert and  Adaline.     Francis  M.  and  John  W.  died  when  young. 

Henry  was  born  Feb.  20,  1833,  and   married   Elizabeth  Layton. 

Thomas   R.   was  born  January,    1835;   dead. 

Elizabeth  was  born  in  1838;  married  Wm.  Boardman. 

JOHN  McMENNAMY  was  born  March  10,  1793,  in  Ruther- 
ford county,  Tenn.,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  October,   1826, 


270  HISTORY  OF  MACOX  COUNTV. 


with    his   brother-in-law,  James  Ward.     He  removed   to  Texas  in 
1839,  and  died  there.     Of  his  children — 

John  H.  was  born  in  18 14,  in  Tennessee,  and  has  been  constable 
in  Macon  county  for  20  years.  His  wife  died  some  25  years  ago. 
He  had  two  children — 

George,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  and  Dr.  B.  F.  McMenxa- 
MY,  now  of  Moultrie   county. 

LuciNDA  (now  Martin),  who  resides  in  Harristown  township. 

SAMUEL  McKINLEY  was  born  December  23,  i8t6,  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  and  moved  to  Macon  county  in  the  month  of  March, 
1834.  Was  married  September  24,  1840,  to  Anna  Hanen,  who 
was  born  January  10,  1822,  in  Morgan  county,  Ala.  She  came  to 
Macon  county  in  the  month  of  March,  1830.     Of  their  children 

William  A.  was  born  September  3,  1841,  and  died  in  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  March  19,  1S63.  John  H.  was  born  November  23,1843; 
married  to  Catharine  Ghear,  December  30,  1869.  Emma  was  born 
April  II,  1846;  was  married  to  John  Hammond,  June  18,  186S. 
Eugene  was  born  January  27,  1849.  Amanda  was  born  October 
26,  i85i;died  September  24,  1852.  Alice  was  born  August  8, 
1853;  married  to  Joseph  Baxter,  October  16,  1873.  Elsie  was  born 
March  27,  1856;  died  April  24,  1856.  Mary  E.  was  born  May  22, 
1858.  Jennie  was  born  December  6,  i860.  Edward  S.  was 
born  February  18,  1864. 

WILLIAM  F.  MONTGOMERY  was  born  January  7,  181 2, 

in  the    State  of  Virginia;   was  married  to  Amelia ,  May  26, 

1836,  who  was  born  January  14,  1814,  and   came  to  Macon  countv 
in  1835.     Of  their  children — 

Rachael  was  born  April  9,  1837;  '^^^  married  to  John  R. 
Hays,  March  26,  1857.  Mary  C.  was  born  May  11,  1839;  was 
married  to  Grason  Hanks,  January  16,  1862.  Emily  S.  was  born 
March  12,  1841.  Samuel  K.was  born  December  17,  1842.  John 
F.  was  born  February  11,  1846;  was  married  to  Ollie  Campbell, 
September  20,  1871.  Patrick  H.  was  born  September  29,  1848. 
Martha  A.  was  born  April  9,  1851;  was  married  to  Lafayette 
Gulick,  September  20,  1870. 

JAMES  MYERS  was  born  October  4,  1804,  in  Grayson  coun- 
ty, Kentucky,  and  was  married  to  Mary  Meeks,  who  was  born  in 
December,    181 1,  in   Hardin   county,    Kentucky.     They  came  to 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  37 1 

Macon  county  in  1828,  and  settled  the  farm  now  known  as  the 
Henry  Davis  nursery  farm,  in  Long  Creek  township;  Mr.  M. 
died  in  July,  1872,  and  Mrs.  M,  died  in  1859.  Of  their  chil- 
dren— 

John  H.  was  born  October  12,  1830;  was  married  in  1848,  to 
Elizabeth  A,  Park,  who  was  born  in  1S28,  in  Virginia,  and  died 
in  December,  1S51;  married  a  second  time  to  Emily  J.  Howell, 
who  was  born  June  21,  1821,  in  Sangamon  county.  Mr.  M.  had 
two  children  by  his  first  wife,  both  dead;  by  his  last  wife  has  had 
eleven  chikhen,  of  whom  six  are  living,  viz:  James  M.,  Charles 
B.,  Livinda,  Joseph,  Daniel  and  Martha.  James  B.  was  born  in 
1849,  now  resides  in  Texas.  Sarah  J.  was  born  in  1836;  married 
to -Andrew  Shoemaker.  Angelina  was  born  in  1847;  i^i'^i'i'i^d 
to  Thomas  Atchison. 

MICHAEL  MYERS  was  born  about  1779,  in  North  Carolina, 
and  married  Louisa  Atteberry,  who  was  born  about  the  same 
date  in  Kentucky;  they  removed  to  Macon  county  in  1827  or  '8. 
Mr.  M.  died  about  1856,  and  Mrs.  M.  about  1862.  Of  their  child- 
ren— 

Moses  was  born  about  1805,  and  now  resides  in  Missouri.  Eliz- 
abeth, born  in  1807  (about);  married  to  Wm.  Lacy;  both  dead. 
Dennis,  born  1809  (about),  and  died  about  1861.  His  widow  is 
now  the  wife  of  J.  D.  C.Travis.  Minerva,  born  about  i8ii; 
married  John  Wallace,  who  is  dead,  and  she  is  the  present  wife  of 
Henry  Rhodes.  Nancy,  bornin  1813;  married  Andrew  Allsman; 
both  dead.  James  was  born  in  1824;  died  in  1870  or  '71;  married 
Nancy  Howell;  also  dead. 

SARAH  MYERS  was  born  about  1800,  in  North  Carolina; 
married  in  Kentucky  to  Joseph  Davis.  Came  to  Illinois  in  1831, 
and  died  in  1875.     Of  their  children — 

Matilda  was  born  ;  married  Claiburn  Jones.     Lydia  was 

born  ;  married  to  John  Kiger.     John  was  born  ;  now  in 

Kansas.     Henry  was  born .     Mary  was  born ;  married 

A.  Camp.      Louisa  was  born .     (See  Henry  Davis.) 

JACOB   MYERS  was  born   in    1802,  in   North  Carolina;  was 

married   to   Elizabeth  Wood,  who  was  born .     Mr.  M.  died 

November,  1854.     Their  children  were — 


272 


HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 


Joseph   B,,  born   in    1843;  John   A.,  born   in    1840;  Mary  A., 
James  Wesley,  Sarah  C.  and  James. 

Second  marriage  in  1849,  to  Malinda  White. 

Nancy  L.  was  born  in  1851,  and   married  James  M.  Bell,  Octo- 
ber, 1871. 

THOMAS  NELMS  came  to  Macon  county  in  1827,  from  Lo- 
gan county,  Ky.,  and  settled  where  William  C.  Smith  now  resides; 
died  from  the  effects  of  a  tree  falling  upon  him,  perhaps  about  1830. 
A  remarkable  incident  is  related  in  connection  with  the  tree  caus- 
ino-  the  death  of  Mr.  N.  After  it  was  cut  down,  and  before  being 
split,  there  was  one  continuous  tingling  sound  came  from  it,  similar 
to  that  heard  from  the  splinters  when  a  tough  stick  of  wood  is 
being  split.  This  continued  long  after  the  logs  were  made  into 
rails  and  laid  up  in  a  fence.  The  attention  of  travelers  was  attracted 
by  the  peculiar  noise,  while  they  were  passing  along  the  road  by 
the  side  of  the  fence.  The  fact  of  this  singular  and  unexplainable 
circumstance  was  attested  by  many  of  the  early  settlers — some  of 
whom  are  still  living.  That  the  strange  freak  had  any  connection 
with  the  killing  of  Nelms,  as  was  strenuously  insisted,  is  probably 
without  foundation. 

Hon.  R.J.  OGLESBY  was  born  in  Oldham  county,  Kentucky, 
July  25,  1824.  His  parents  died  when  he  was  but  eight  years  old, 
and  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  an  uncle,  and  in  1836  was  brought 
to  Decatur  with  the  family  of  his  uncle,  Willis  Oglesby.  He  had, 
while  in  Kentucky,  worked  a  year  and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  and  after  his  removal  to  Decatur  worked  six  months  with 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith.  In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field with  Judge  Silas  Robins,  and  read  with  him  one  year,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845,  and  commenced  the  practice  at 
Sullivan,  Illinois,  and  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1846.  In 
June  of  that  year  he  went  as  Lieutenant  in  Co.  C,  4th  regiment,  to 
the  Mexican  war,  and  took  part  in  the  battles  at  Vera  Cruz  and 
Cerro  Gordo.  On  his  return  he  continued  to  study  and  practice 
law;  but  on- the  breaking  out  of  the  gold  fever,  in  1849,  he  crossed 
the  plains  to  California,  driving  a  six  mule  team  en  route.,  with  a 
company  of  eight  men,  of  which  Henry  PratherVas  the  leading 
man.  In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  county,  and  was  a  Scott 
elector.  In  1S56  he  visited  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa,  ^nd  was  ab- 
sent twenty  months.     On  his  return  he  resumed  practice,  as  a  mem- 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY,  273 

ber  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby.  In  1858  he  ran  as 
the  Republican  candidate  for  congress,  and  was  defeated  by  Hon. 
J.  C.  Robinson.  In  1S60  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate..  On 
the  evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in,  Mr.  O.  had 
a  fisti-cufF  encounter  with  "Cerro  Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he 
came  out  victorious,  and  which  was  regarded  as  the  first  fight  of  the 
rebellion.  During  the  extra  session  of  the  legislature  in  1861,  Mr. 
O.  was  elected  colonel  of  the  8th  Illinois  infantry.  He  commanded 
a  brigade  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  was  stationed  on  the  right  of  Gen. 
Grant's  army,  and  rendered  valuable  service  in  that  famous  battle, 
where  so  many  Macon  count}^  soldiers  fell.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and  in  a  brave  charge  at  this  place,  was 
shot  with  an  ounce  ball,  which  he  still  retains,  and  was  borne  from 
the  field,  as  was  supposed,  mortally  wounded.  He  had  been  pro- 
moted to  brigadier-general  in  April  previous.  After  his  partial 
recovery  he  was  promoted  to  major-general,  as  a  merit  for  his  val- 
iant services,  ranking  from  Nov.  1862,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863 
was  assigned  to  the  i6th  army  corps.  Owing  to  inability  from  the- 
efFects  of  his  wound,  to  perform  the  arduous  duties  of  his  position, 
he  resigned  his  command  in  July,  1863;  but  Gen.  Grant  refused  to 
accept  his  resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  Dec.  1863,  to  court 
martial  and  try  the  surgeon-general  of  the  army,  at  Washington, 
where  he  remained  until  May,  1864,  when  he  returned  to  his  home, 
and  was  nominated  and  elected  as  the  republican  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor of  Illinois,  and  served  four  years.  At  the  end  of  his  term  he 
returned  home  to  Decatur,  and  was  re-elected  governor  in  1S73; 
but  upon  the  meeting  of  the  legislature,  in  January,  1873,  he  was 
elected  to  the  senate  of  the  United  States,  and  resigned  his  office  of 
governor. 

Senator  Oglesby  is  a  man  of  no  common  native  ability.  Almost 
without  education,  and  by  the  force  of  his  own  powers,  he  has 
arisen  step  by  stejD  to  his  present  position  as  senator  of  one  of  the 
most  important  states  in  the  Union.  Macon  coimty  is  proud  of 
Senator  Oglesby,  and  we  doubt  not  he  is  proud  of  Macon  county. 

JOSHUA  G.  PURDEW  was*  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Tennessee,  March  1,  181 1,  and  moved  to  Macon  county  in  1832; 
was  married  to  Margaret  Ward,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee  Janu- 
ary II,  1814;  she  died  in  1862.     Of  their  children — 

—35 


274  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY, 


Mary  E.,  born  May  i,  1835;  marned  W.A.Wilson.  Phe- 
RiBA  A.,  born  October  5,  1836.  John  B.,  born  March  27,  1838; 
married  M.  A.  Frazee;  died  March  27,  1863.  Nancy  A.,  born 
October  30,  1841 ;  married  John  Neyhard;  died  March  31,  1861. 
W^iLLiAM  M.,  born  October  30,  1S41 ;  married  M.  H.  Pound.  Joel 
T.,  born  December  12,  1843;  died  March,  1863.  JaxMEs  Y.,  born 
May  12,  1845.  Wilson  S.,  born  February  3,  1847.  America 
M.,  born  November  21,1848.  Joshua  L.,  born  April  26,  1850. 
Lewis  M.,  born  July  28,  1854. 

Mr.  P.  married  a  second  time,  to  Mrs.  Lucinda  P.  Widick,  who 
was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Illinois,  August  i,  1825.  Her  first 
husband  was  Daniel  K.  Pound.      (See  Pound,) 

DANIEL  K.  POUND  and  Lucinda  R.  Davidson  were  mar- 
ried, November  22,  1842 — (See  Purdue).  He  died  August  10, 
1875.     Of  their  children — 

D.  K.,  Jr.  was  born  January  12,  1845;  married  April  29,  1866. 
J.  B.  was  born  March  26,  1859;  died  March  15,  1850.  M.  H. 
was  born  July    10,    1850;  married   W.    M.  Purdue,  March,   1868. 

Mrs.  P.  married  Aaron  Widick,  January  22,  1S58.  Of  their 
children — 

Larkin  W.,  born  January  23,  1850.  Aaron  K,,  born  August 
7,  1S60. 

DEMPSEY  POPE  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and  removed 
thence  to  Tennessee,  and  thence  to  this  county,  in  1827,  and  settled 
on  Mosquito  Creek.  He  married  in  North  Carolina,  Sarah  Ed- 
wards, who  was  born  in  1794  and  died  1874.  Mr.  P.  died  in  1853 
or  '4.     Their  children  were — 

Martha,  Mary,  Tabitha,  Elizabeth,  William,  Leacy  J.,  Sarah, 
James,  Willis  Zacharlah,  Penelope  and  Matilda. 

NINIAN  PEDDECORD  was  born  In  Montgomery  county, 
Maryland,  and  removed  to  Macon  county  In  1836,  where  he  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  for  Adamson  &  Prather.  He  afterwards  formed 
a  copartnership  with  Joseph  Stickel.  He  was  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  from  1840  to  1847,  after  which  he  went  to  Missouri,  and  thence 
to  Clinton,  Iowa,  where  he  died  about  1870.  He  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Stickel. 

JASPER  J.  PEDDICORD  was  born  November  8,  1818,  in 
Montgomery   county,  Maryland,   and  came   to   Macon  county  In 


275  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


June,  183S.  He  married  Ophelia  W.  Adamson,  sister  of  Senator 
R.J.  Oj^lesby,  August  30,  1843.  Her  first  husband  was  John  S. 
Adamson,  who  died  in  1840.  Mr.  P.  for  a  number  of  years  was 
engaged  in  merchandising,  with  Joseph  Stickel,  and  afterwards 
with  Hosea  Armstrong.  In  1853  he  formed  a  copartnership  with 
Lowber  Burrows,  in  the  banking  business,  besides  engaging  to  a 
large  extent  in  manufacturing. 

^Capt.  JOEL  S.  POST  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ontario,  in  what 
is  now  Wayne  county,  New  York,  April  27,  18 16.  In  1838  his 
father  removed  to  Washtinaw  county,  Michigan  territory,  where 
he  remained  until  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  23  years  old.  In 
1S39  Mr.  Post  removed  to  Macon  county;  and  commenced  the 
study  of  law  under  the  late  Judge  Emerson  in  1840;  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1841,  and  entered  into  the  practice  at  Decatur,  where 
he  has  since  remained,  being  now  the  oldest  practitioner  of  the 
Macon  county  bar.  In  1846  Mr.  P.  enlisted  in  the  service  for  the 
Mexican  war  and  was  appointed  quartermaster  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  In  1856  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  senatorial  district 
including  Macon  and  other  counties,  in  the  State  Senate,  and  serv- 
ed two  sessions.  During  this  term  of  service  he  was  mainly  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  passage  of  a  law  establishing  the  Normal 
University,  at  Normal,  Illinois.  Mr.  Post  married  Sallv  Ann 
Bunn,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Rev.  D.  P.  Bunn,  in  November, 
1853.  She  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  1833.  Of  their 
children — 

Bunn  was  born  in  1856.     Hellen  was  born  in  1859. 

It  is  proper  in  this  connection  to  say,  that  in  the  preparation  of 
this  work,  we  have  been  materially  aided  and  assisted  by  Caj^tain 
Post.  He  has  taken  more  interest  in  this  effort  by  which  some- 
thing might  be  placed  in  a  permanent  shape,  of  the  early  history  of 
the  county,  than  any  other  person. 

Gen.  ISAAC  C.  PUGH  was  born  November  23,  180^,  in 
Christian  county,  Ky.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1S21,  and  settled 
with  his  father's  family  in  Shelby  county,  where  he  remained  until 
1829,  when  he  came  to  Macon  county;  resided  here  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  November  19,  1874.  He  was  married  to  Elvira  E. 
Gorin,  August  2,  i83i,whowas  born  in  Todd  county,  Kv.,  De- 
cember 17,  1814,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1829,  and  to  Macon  county 
in  1 83 1.     Of  their  eleven  children,  five  died  in  infancy — 


276  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


Maria  M.  was  born  June  4,  1833,  and  married  to  J.  Milton 
Lowry,  February  17,  1S52.  John  H.  was  born  December  30, 
1838,  and  married  Sophia  Wood,  May  39,  1863.  Bartley  G. 
was  born  April  33,  1841 ;  married  Mary  C.  Rohrer,  September  3, 
1863.  Isaac  R.  was  born  January  38,  1843;  Ti^i'i'ied  Nellie  M. 
Upton,  June  31,  1867.  He  died  July  20,  1868.  Venitin  Isabel 
was  born  March  11,  1846;  married  Perry  B.  Gilham,  September 
26,  1865.  Almira  H.  was  born  March  33,  1851;  married  John 
C.  Mark,  June  20,  1874. 

Gen.  Pugh  has  been  prominently  connected  with  all  the  impor- 
tant affairs  of  the  county,  and  took  a  lively  interest  in  everything 
calculated  to  advance  the  interest  of  the  city  and  county.  He  was 
in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  served  as  Captain  at  the  time  of 
Stillman's  defeat.  He  was  also  Captain  of  Co.  C,  in  the  Mexican 
war,  and  took  a  prominent  and  active  part  in  the  late  war.  He  was 
Colonel  of  the  41st  regiment,  in  the  late  war,  and  was  promoted  to 
the  grade  of  Brig. -General  for  meritorious  conduct.  In  1865  he  was 
elected  clerk  of  the  county  court,  and  served  for  four  years,  and 
held  other  positions  of  trust  during  his  long  residence  in  the  countv, 
and  alwavs,  whether  in  office  or  as  a  private  citizen,  was  where 
duty  called  him.  He  was  kind  hearted,  affectionate,  and  in  all  re- 
spects upright  and  honorable. 

THOMAS  H.  READ  was  born  February  24,  1798,  in  Charlotte 
county,  Virginia,  and  died  on  the  first  day  of  September,  1874,  in 
the  citv  of  Decatur.  His  father  moved  from  Virginia  to  Ruther- 
ford county,  Tenn.,  when  Thomas  was  quite  young.  In  the  spring 
of  1 83 1  the  Doctor  moved  from  Tennessee  to  this  county;  was 
married  on  the  24th  of  August,  1836,  to  Elizabeth  Allen,  of 
Loudon  county,  Virginia,  who  was  born  on  the  4th  of  August, 
i8i3,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1835.     Names  of  children — 

JuT.iA  E.  was  born  September  8,  1837,  and  died  October  31, 
1837.  John  N.  was  born  August  11,  1839.  Mary  S.  was  born 
March  33,  1841.  Annie  H.  w\as  born  February  3,  1843,  ^"^  '^'^'^ 
August  34,  1864.  James  A.  was  born  May  26,  1846.  Emma  F. 
was  born  August  31,  1848.     Susie  C.  was  born  January  13,  1831. 

JAMES  RE  A  was  born  February  9,  1799,  in  Green  Briar 
county,  Va.,  and  married  in  18 17  to  Hannah  Hudsinpiller,  and 
came  to   Macon   county  in    1839,  and   remained    until   April,   1854, 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  377 

when  he  removed  to  San  Jose,  Cal,     Mrs.  Readied  in  1S71.    Their 
only  child — 

Wm.  Re  a,  was  born  October  4,  1S33,  in  Gallio  county,  Ohio, 
and  came  to  this  county  with  his  father,  and  was  married  July  19, 
1 84 1,  to  Mary  Howell,  who  was  born  August  23,  1833,  and  died 
Feb.  28,  1872.     Their  children  are — 

Cyrene,  (dead),  Frank,  Mary,  David,  Mellissa,  (married  to  John 
Shrader,)  John  and  William. 

SAMUEL  REA  was  born  in  Virginia,  January  17,  1819,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  1830;  was  married  March  11,  1856,  to  Catharine 
Dennis,  who  was  born  in   Pennsylvania,  January  31,  1833. 

Mr.  R.,  during  his  long  residence  in  Macon  county,  has  been 
honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  a  number  of  county  offices, 
which  he  filled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents,  and  is 
everywhere  respected.  His  honesty  and  integrity  perhaps  no  man 
has  ever  questioned.  His  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  his 
enemies,  if  anv,  are  few  and  far  between. 

JAMES  RENSHAW  was  born  November  31,  1794,  in  North 
Carolina,  and  moved  to  Kentucky,  where  he  married  vSarah  Phipps, 
in  1S19,  who  was  born  in  the  latter  State, 

BERRY  ROSE  was  born  January  14,  1S06;  was  married  to 
Martha  Pope,  November  33,  1836.  He  died  March  13,  1835.  His 
wife  was  born  May  31, '1808,  and  is  now  living  in  this  countv,  six 
miles  southwest  of  Decatur.     Of  their  children — 

Albert  was  born  January  34,  1838;  was  married  to  Louisa  A. 
Sprouse,  October  10,  1850;  is  now  living  in  Missouri.  Mary 
Jane  was  born  September  31,  1839;  was  married  to  Andrew 
Armstrong,  July  35,  1835.  They  are  now  living  in  Blue  Mound. 
Benjamin  W.  was  born  July  38,  1831;  was  married  to  Mary  J. 
Darmer,  March  37,  1856,  who  died  in  Missouri.  He  has  since 
married  Mrs.  Rebecca  Carter,  September  6,  at  six  o'clock.  He  is 
now  living  in  Blue  Mound  township.  Elijah  T.  was  born  March 
S,  1833;  died  in  the  army,  January  33,  1863.  Berry  J.  was  born 
May  30,  1835;  died  July  10,  1835.  Martha  Ann  was  born  Sep- 
tember 30,  1836;  was  married  to  William  C.  Darmer,  April  30, 
1857;  now  living  in  Champaign  count}-.  John  V.  was  born  No- 
vember 36,   1838;  died  in  the  army,   May   36,  1864.     Wm.  C.  was 


278  HISTORY    OF    MASON    COUNTY. 

born  July  15,  1S41 ;  died  in  fhe  army,  May  6,  1862.  Nancy  E. 
was  bornjuly  14,  1S43;  married  Thomas  Armstrong,  in  the  month 
of  March,  1865;  now  living  in  this  county.  Sarah  E.  was  born 
October  24,  1845;  married  John  Jeter;  now  living  in  Champaign 
county.  James  T.  was  born  September  22^  1850;  married  to 
Lizzie  Cook;  is  now  living  in  Daviess  county.  Mo. 

REBECCA  ROBINSON  was  born  February  19, 1822,  in  Put- 
nam county,  Ind.,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1831;  was  married 
in  1847  to  John  Drake,  who  was  born  October  5,  i8ii,iii  Piqua 
county,  Ohio;  came  to  Macon  county  in  1S34,  and  died  March  12, 
1855.     Of  their  children — 

Sarah  Ann  was  born  June  29,  1843;  died  October  26,  1843. 
Mary  Jane  was  born  October  26,  1S44;  died  August  26,  1S46. 
Sylvanus  was  born  August  30,  1849.  Isaac  was  born  Decem- 
ber 7,  1852;  died  February  5,  1872.  John  Lewis  was  born  Octo- 
ber 25,  1854.  Mrs.  Drake  was  married  second  time,  to  Lewis 
Camp,  about  the  year  1857.     Of  their  children — 

Samuel  W.  was  born  October  14, 1859;  died  in  186 1.  Hattie  May 
was  born  November  4,  1865. 

JOHN  RUCKER  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1800,  and  re- 
moved from  that  State  when  quite  small,  to  McMinn  county,  Tenn.; 
he  remained  there  until  1833,  when  he  removed  to  Macon  county, 
and  resided  here  until  he  died,  in  the  year  1872.  He  was  a  hard 
working  man  all  his  life,  and  by  industry  ^succeeded  in  amassing 
property  sufficient  to  class  him  with  the  well-to-do  men  of  the 
county.  He  was  for  fourteen  years  one  of  the  county  commission- 
ers of  Macon  county,  holding  the  position  longer  than  any  other 
man  since  the  organization  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rucker, 
his  wife,  is  still  living  with  her  son-in-law,  E.  R.  Eldridge,  in  De- 
catur. Mr.  R.,  was,  in  all  his  transactions,  strict,  and  required  all 
he  dealt  with  to  observe  the  same  thing.  When  he  came  to  the 
State,  his  worldly  possessions  were  carried  on  two  horses,  and  his 
success  in  life  is  a  monument  to  honest  and  patient  toil  and  indus- 
try. 

JAMES  SANDERS.  There  are  but  few  old  settlers  of  the 
county  who  do  not  remember  "Uncle  Jimmy  Sanders."  He  was 
one  of  the  noted  men,  and  almost  every  one  knew  him,  by  reputa- 
tion at  least,  for  an  area  of  a  great  many  miles.     He   was  born   in 


HISTORY  OF  MACON  CONNTY.  279 

Spartanburg  county,  S.  C,  June  15,  1800,  and  was  taken  on  a  pack- 
pony  when  very  small,  to  Rutherford  county,  Tenn,,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  grown.  •  In  1823  he  married  Polly  Wilson, 
who  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1797,  and  died  in  Christian 
county,  111.,  in  1866.  In  the  year  iS  29,  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Illinois,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since  On  his  arrival  in 
Illinois,  he  says  he  had  a  wife,  five  children  and  an  "old  plug  of  a 
wagon,  three  old  plugs  of  horses,  one  good  mare,  61^  cents  in 
money.  The  money  he  had  in  his  pocket  with  his  shot  and  bullets 
a  short  ti nvj  after  his  arrival,  which  he  accidentally  lost,  and 
was  thereby  "  broken  up."  Mr.  Sanders  was  a  man  of  most  pow- 
erful constitution,  and  his  strength  and  endurance  were  pi'obably 
not  excelled  by  any  man  in  Central  Illinois.  On  the  day  of  Uncle 
Joe  Stevens'  wedding,  Mr.  S.,  in  a  general  trial  of  strength  among 
those  persons  present,  took  a  piece  of  lead,  75  pounds  in  weight,  in 
each  hand,  and  raised  them  on  a  level  with  his  shoulders,  and  then 
passed  them  around  straight  in  front  until  they  touched  each  other. 
At  one  time  he  had  been  sick  for  some  length  of  time,  and  when 
he  had  sufficiently  recovered  to  walk  to  the  blackberry  patch,  he 
gathered  his  hat  full  of  blackberries,  and  then  sat  down  and  ate 
them  all.  He  returned  to  the  house  and  said,  "  Polly,  I  have  eat  a 
few  blackberries  and  feel  better." 

He  was  known  far  and  wide  as  a  good  rail-maker,  and  would  go 
as  far  as  15  and  20  miles  and  make  rails  for  parties  at  25  cents  per 
hundred,  or  37^  cents  in  trade,  which  he  regarded  as  a  very  liberal 
price.  He  was  a  man  that  possessed  a  great  many  peculiarities,  a 
particular  mention  of  which,  would  extend  this  sketch  quite  too  far. 
He  relates  to-day,  ]with  pride,  as  one  of  his  greatest  achievements, 
the  fact  that  he  at  one  time  in  a  wrestling  match,  threw  down  *Abe 
Lincoln,  who  had  thrown  the  bully  of  the  county.  Of  Mr.  San- 
ders' children — 

*  Note. — It  will  be  remembered  in  this  connection,  that  Mr.  Lincoln,  when 
he  first  came  to  Illinois,  was  a  resident  of  Macon  county,  and  he  and  Mr.  San- 
ders were  great  cronies  and  Iriends.  Uncle  Jim  says  that  they  spent  many 
Sundays  together  fishing  in  the  Sangamon,  and  were  often  together  at  barn- 
raisings,  house-raisings,  fox-chases  and  wolf-hunts.  At  these  early  gatherings, 
when  Mr.  Lincoln  was  an  awkward  gangling  boy,  he  was  often  called  upon, 
when  the  work  was  through,  for  a  Jackson  speech,  and  he  seldom  failed  to  re- 
spond. Mr.  L.'s  father  was  a  Jackson  Democrat,  and  his  son  grew  up  in  that 
faith,  and  has  made  a  great  many  Jackson  speeches  in  this  county.     He  after- 


zSo  HISTORY  OF  MACON   COUNTY. 

Ei.LEN  was  born  in  1823,  and  now  resides  in  Kansas.  John, 
their  second,  died  in  the  Mexican  war.  James  B.  died  in  1854. 
Jane,  wife  of  Prestly  Travis,  resides  in  Christian  county.  Peter 
H.,  Peggy,  Matilda,  Bethany  and  Amanda,  are  dead.  Frank, 
the  youngest  cliild,  was  born  in  March,  1845,  and  married  Annis 
HolHngsworth,  with  whom  Uncle  Jimmy  now  resides. 

JOSEPH  and  BARBARA  SPANGLER  came  to  this  county 
in  the  fall  of  1835,  from  the  county  of  York,  in  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  were  among  the  first  permanent  settlers  of  this 
county.  They  had  nine  children  born  unto  them,  all  of  whom 
came  to  this  county  with  their  parents,  with  the  exception  of  the 
oldest  daughter,  who  married  in  Pennsylvania.'  Barbara  Spangler 
died  in  March,  1S47.  Joseph  Spangler  died  February,  17,  1862, 
leaving  surviving  him  all  of  his  children,  except  Felix,  who  had 
moved  to  California  in  1852,  and  died  while  there. 


wards  changed  his  politics  and  became  a  Whig  of  tlie  most  pronounced  type, 
which  incensed  his  fatlier  no  little.  Mr.  Lincoln  commenced  his  law  studies 
in  this  county  under  the  following  circumstances :  He  had  gone  to  "Uncle 
Billy  Warnick's"  to  see  one  of  the  girls;  but  in  going,  his  shoes  not  being  good, 
he  got  his  feet  frost-bitten,  and  was  unable  to  return  home.  He  remained 
there  for  a  week  or  ten  days  under  the  medical  treatment  of  old  Mrs.  Warnick, 
and  while  so  doing  became  greatly  interested  in  reading  the  statutes  and  a  few 
other  stray  volumes  of  law-books,  which,  no  doubt,  afterwards  materially  de- 
termined his  course  in  adopting  his  profession.  It  was  reported  in  the  news- 
papers during  the  campaign  of  i860,  that  Mr.  Lincoln  in  his  early  day  was  a 
great  rail  maker ;  but  Mr.  Sanders  says  that  while  it  is  true  that  "Abe"  did  make 
some  rails,  yet  they  were  few  in  number.  Mr.  Sanders  also  relates  the  cir- 
cumstance by  which  Mr.  L.  ceased  to  be  a  resident  of  this  county,  which  is 
this:  A  man  by  the  name  of  Offit  purchased  a  few  hundred  hogs,  and  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  his  step-brother,  John  Johnson,  were  employed  to  assist  in  driv- 
ing the  hogs  to  market  at  Beardstown.  When  they  had  disposed  of  the  hogs 
they  invested  the  money  in  groceries,  which  consisted,  as  Uncle  Jim  says,  of 
"sod-corn,"  spun-cotton,  sugar  and  coftee,  powder  and  lead,  etc.,  the  greater 
part  of  which  were  brought  back  as  far  as  Salem,  where  tliey  started  a  grocery, 
and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  left  in  charge  of  the  goods,  to  keep  store.  This  was  the 
last  of  Mr,  Lincoln's  personal  history  in  connection  with  this  county.  Mr. 
Sanders'  last  interview  with  Lincoln  was  but  a  day  or  so  before  Lincoln's  de- 
parture lor  Washington.  As  they  were  separating — which  proved  to  be  their 
last— Mr.  Sanders  said,  "Now,  Abe,  don't  do  any  wrong."  Mr.  Lincoln  re- 
plied, "I  will  not,  if  I  know  it." 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  281 

Jacob,  Joseph  and  John  Spangler,  and  Susan  and  Eliza, 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  Joseph  and  Barbara  Spangler,  still  reside 
in  this  county,  each  of  whom  have  raised  a  family. 

Their  son,  Daniel  Spangler,  moved  to  California  in  1852, 
where  he  still  resides. 

Susan  Spangler  was  married  to  James  D.  Tait  in  1S42.  James 
D.  Tait  came  to  this  county  from  Lawrence  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1839.  He  opened  the  first  saddle  and  harness  shop  ever  opened 
in  Decatur,  He  walked  across  the  country  from  Naples,  on  the 
Illinois  river,  carrying  his  tools  upon  his  back,  frequently  wading 
water  up  to  his  chin,  which  filled  every  slough  and  hollow  during 
those  days.  He  bought  his  stock  of  goods  in  Springfield,  Illinois, 
after  deciding  to  stop  in  Decatur,  and  had  them  hauled  here  by 
team.  He  followed  his  trade  for  several  years,  until  he  was  obliged 
to  discontinue  on  account  of  his  health.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tait  had 
borii  unto  them  five  sons,  to-wit:  Joseph  S.  Tait  was  born  March. 
28,  1843;  was  married  to  Martha  E.  Dillahunt,  January  24,  1871. 
James  H.  Tait  was  born  June  39,  1847,  and  died  July  9,  1849.  Felix 
B.  Tait  was  born  November  29,  1850.  Daniel  T.  Tait  was  born 
February  25,  1853,  and  died  October  8,  1873.  Robert  M.  Tait  was 
born  December  10,  1856,  and  died  November  17,  1S73.  Joseph  S. 
Tait  is  one  of  the  largest  farmers  of  this  county.  Felix  B.  Tait 
graduated  at  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University,  in  June,  1873; 
was  principal  of  the  Woodstock  Seminary,  in  McHenry  county, 
Illinois,  in  1S74-75;  was  licensed  to  practice  law  in  June,  1876, 

JOHN  SCOTT,  Sr.,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  1775,  and 
married  Mary  Dodd,  in  Kentucky,  who  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina, in  1777-  They  removed  from  Tennessee  to  Indiana,  in  18 16, 
and  thence  to  Illinois,  in  1829.  Mr.  S.  died  December  20,  1830,  and 
Mrs.  S.  died  September  7,  of  the  same  year. 

Of  their  two  children,  now  residents  of  Macon  county,  see  Fran- 
cis and  John,  below. 

Francis  D.  Scott  was  born  July  12,  1819,  in  Gibson  county, 
Indiana,  and  removed  to  Illinois,  with  his  father,  in  1829,  and  set- 
tled in  Macon  county,  in  1834,  in  Mt.  Zion  township.  Mr.  S.  was 
married  April  24,  1846,  to  Lucinda  Fruit,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  August,  1824.     Of  their  children — • 

-36 


282  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Eli  K.  was  born  July  6,  1847.  Albert  was  born  October,  2,  1852. 
Charles  was  born  September  22,  1858.  Willie  J.  was  born  July 
16,1865. 

John  Scott,  Jr.,  was  born  December  22,  182 1,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  father,  as  above  stated.  He  married  in  March,  1S52, 
Mary  J.  Davidson,  who  was  born  in  1830,  in  Macon  county.  Of 
their  two  children — 

Oliver  was  hcn'n  November  i,  1858.  Rhoda  was  born  April  32, 
1862. 

LEONARD  STEVENS,  Sr.  At  this  late  day,  and  from  the 
data  at  hand,  it  is  absolutely  impossible  to  give  an  accurate  account 
of  the  ages,  deaths,  marriages,  etc.,  of  this  family.  It  is  also  impos- 
sible to  fix,  with  certainty,  when  Mr.  Stevens  came  to  what  now 
constitutes  Macon  county.  Joseph  Stevens,  now  in  his  68th  year, 
and  the  7th  child  of  Leonard  Stevens,  fixes  the  date  of  his  father's 
arrival  at  1S21;  but  his  memory,  I  find,  is  quite  treacherous,  and 
his  general  health  is  very  infirm.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  Leon- 
ard Stevens  was  the  first  settler  of  the  county  whose  descendants 
yet  i-emain  among  us.  He  was  born  in  Connecticut,  it  is  thought, 
about  the  year  1764;  perhaps  a  few  years  earlier.  His  wife  was 
Alice  Gates,  also  born  in  Connecticut,  about  one  year  after  her  hus- 
band, and  survived  him  about  one  year.  They  were  married  in 
Connecticut,  and  emigrated  a  short  time  afterwards  to  the  state  of 
New  York,  where  most,  if  not  all,  of  their  children  were  born. 
They  emigrated  to  Illinois,  Randolph  county,  in  1818,  and  come 
from  there  to  Macon  about  the  year  182 1,  as  above  stated;  certainly 
not  later  than  1823.  Thomas  Cowan,  one  of  the  commissioners 
who  located  the  county  seat  of  Macon  county,  was  a  member  of 
Mr.  Stevens'  family,  and  removed  to  this  county  with  them,  from 
Randolph  county. 

BuELL  Stevens,  the  oldest  son,  was  born  in  New  York,  about 
the  year  1796,  as  he  was  but  22  when  his  father  came  to  Illinois  in 
1818.  He  died  about  the  year  1S36.  His  first  wife  was  a  Manville, 
the  date  of  whose  death  we  have  no  means  of  ascertaininsr.  His 
second  wife  was  Polly  Gray,  who  died  about  1837.  His  children, 
by  his  first  wife,  were  Leonard  Stevens,  Jr.,  who  was  the  first  white 
child  born  within  the  limits  of  Macon  county;  Ira  Stevens,  Clara 
Stevens,  and  Perry  Stevens.  Those  by  his  second  wife  w^ere,  Do- 
rus,  James,   Truman   C,  Hattie,  Mary   and    Elizabeth.     Leonard 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  2S3 


Stevens,  Jr.,  died  in  this  count}',  and  was  buried  by  Col.  E.  D.  Car- 
ter, as  coroner;  Ira  was  living  in  Stephenson  county  when  last 
heard  from;  Clara  is  dead;  James  died  during  the  late  war;  Perry 
was  living,  when  last  heard  from,  near  Washington  county,  in  this 
state;  Truman  C.  lives  near  Taylorville,  Christian  county;  Hattie 
married Kelso,  near  Washington. 

Keziah  Stevens,  the  second  child  of  Leonard  Stevens,  Sr., 
married  a  man  by  the  name  of  Lawrence,  before  the  removal  of  her 
father  to  Macon  count}-,  and  was  never  a  resident  of  the  county. 

Leonard.  S  tevens,  Jr.,  was  born  in  New  York,  about  the  year 
1800.  He  married  Hannah  Taylor,  of  Kaskaskia.  He  was  not  a 
resident  of  Macon  county. 

Augustus  Stevens  was  not  a  resident  of  the  county.  He  mar- 
ried, and  he  and  wife  both  died  within  about  two  years  of  each 
other;  leaving  no  children.  He  was  buried  on  Stevens'  creek.  He 
was  born  about  1803. 

Luther  Stevens  was  born  about  1804,  in  New  York.  He 
married  Augusta  Sprague,  daughter  of  Abraham  Sprague.  He 
moved  from  Macon  county  to  Missouri  about  30  years  ago.  His 
children  were,  Augustus,  Luther,  John,  Lewis,  Alice  and  Elizabeth- 
He  and  his  wife  have  been  dead  for  a  few  years. 

DoRUS  Stevens  was  born  about  the  year  1806,  in  New  York, 
married  Nancy  Biglaw,  as  his  first  wife;  then  the  widow  Cooper, 
near  Henkle's,  in 'Sangamon  county.  The  date  of  his  death  is  not 
known.  His  widow  is  still  living.  His  children  were.  Perry,  Hat- 
tie  and  Mary. 

Joseph  Stevens,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  what  meagre 
information  we  have  of  the  Stevens'  family,  was  born  in  New  York, 
March  7,  1S08.  He  came  to  this  county  with  his  father,  when  he 
was  but  13  years  old.  He  married  in  1830  to  Mary  Warnick, 
daughter  of  Wm.  Warnick,  the  first  sheriflT  of  Macon  county.  By 
his  first  wife  he  had  three  children,  Francis  M.,  now  in  Mo.;  Wm. 
Henry,  now  in  this  county;  and  James  M.,  in  Kansas.  By  his  last 
wife  he  had  one  child,  Cyrus.  His  first  wife  died  about  1848,  and 
he  then  married  Mrs.  Cunningham,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mar- 
garet Sentenay,  who  was  born  in  Ky.,  and  is  still  living;  she  was 
born  about  1S16.     Mr.  S.  is  now  the  oldest  settler  in  the  countv. 


284  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

Harriet  Stevens  married  William  Hollenback,and  was,  when 
last  heard  from,  living  in  Stephenson  county.  Their  children's 
names  cannot  be  given. 

James  Stevens  was  born  about  181 2,  in  New  York.  His 
second  wife's  name  was  Fordice,  who  died  about  186S.  He  died 
about  three  years  ago,  In  Bloomington,  Illinois. 

ROBERT  SMITH,  Sr.,  was  born  in"  Guilford  county.  North 
Carolina,  September  11,  17S2.  His  father  removed  to  Tennessee, 
near  Nashville,  about  the  year  1S03,  and  remained  there  about  a 
year,  and  removed  to  Stones  River,  near  Murphreysborough,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  in  1S30,  Mr.  Smith  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1828,  and  located  in  Sangamon  county,  where  he  remain- 
ed until  the  spring  of  1S2S,  when  he  came  to  Macon  county,  where 
he  settled  about  six  miles  south-west  of  Decatur,  and  died  in  1855. 
His  father  whose  name  was  also  Robert,  was  engaged  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary war;  and  was  taken  prisoner  in  North  Carolina.  Rob- 
ert was  with  Jackson  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  His  first  wife 
was  Elenor  Wilson,  who  died  in  1S24;  he  afterwards  married  Jane 
Allen,  who  now  lives  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  Iowa.  His  children  were — 
Andrew  W.,  Nancy,  Robert,  Wm.  C.  and  Margaret;  all  by  his 
first  wife. 

ANDREW^  W.  SMITH  was  born  in  Rutherford  county,  Ten- 
nessee, November  25th,  1806.  He  married  Elizabeth  Blanken- 
ship,  who  died  in  1831.  He  afterwards  married  Rebecca  R.  Smith, 
January  28,  1836;  who  died  in  November,  1S75.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  old  county  commissioners  court  for  several  years,  and 
w^as  engaged  in  the  Black  Hawk  war;  he  was  with  the  company 
of  rangers  that  went  out  from  Macon  county,  towards  the  head  of 
the  Sangamon,  in  the  vicinity  of  Cheney's  Grove.  He  died  in 
October,  1875,  just  one  month  pi-evious  to  the  death  of  his  wife. 
Of  their  children — 

Elizabeth  M.  J.  was  born  March  14,  1S32;  she  married  Jos. 
Trobaugh,  and  now  lives  in  Texas.  Alexander  A.  was  born 
November  25,  1838;  was  married  to  Laura  Jacobs,  October  7,  1869. 
He  now  resides  in  Wheatland  township.  Abigail  E.  was  born 
July,  30,  1840;  was  married  to  B.  G.  Henry;  who  now  lives  on 
the  Lewis  Ward  place.  Margaret  A.  was  born  September  5, 
1844;  was  married  to  Nelson  Odor,  October  6,  186S;  now  living 
in  Wheatland  township. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  285 


WM.  C.  SMITH  was  horn  in  Rutherford  county,  Tennessee, 
July  5,  1S19,  moved  to  this  county  in  1S2S,  fi'om  Sangamon  county; 
married  Leacy  J.  Pope,  Fehruary  17,  1842,  who  was  horn  in 
Wake  county.  North  Carolina,  October  25,  18 19.  Of  their  child- 
ren— 

John  W.  was  horn  February  9,  1843;  married  Mattie  J.  Week- 
ly, September  r,  1868;  now  resides  in  Decatur, 

George  R.  was  born  October  2,  1844;  died  November  17,  1845. 
William  B.  was  born  January  5,  1847;  married  Elizabeth  GofF, 
July  2,  1867;  now  lives  in  Wheatland  township.  Robert  H.  was 
born  November  27,  1849;  married  Belle  Wilson,  September  23, 
1875;  now  resides  in  Blue  Mound  township.  Sarah  E.  was  horn 
Februarv  ^,  1852.  James  M.  was  born  March  20,  1854.  Daniel 
C.  was  born  March  24,  1857;  died  September  23,  1857. 

PARMENAS  SMALLWOOD  was  born  in  Virginia,  near 
Charleston,  on  the  27th  of  April,  1782;  was  married  to  Deborah 
Brown,  in  the  same  state,  on  the  23d  of  Jime,  1807.  She  was  born 
near  Charleston,  May  12,  1792,  and  died  November  7,  1873. 
Parmenas  55.  died  in  the  month  of  December,  1851.  Of  their 
children — 

Yamzen  B,  was  born  May  9,  1808;  married  to  John  Murphy, 
August  I,  1832,  who  is  now  living  on  Salt  Creek.  Yamzen  S. 
died  August  zj^  1835.  George  D.  was  born  March  31,  1810.  John 
B.  was  born- November  5,  1811;  died  September  15,  1868.  Sam- 
uel A.  was  born  April  27,  18 13,  and  now  lives  north  of  Decatur. 
James  M.  w^as  born  November  8,  1814;  died  June,  1852.  Daniel 
M.  was  born  May  i,  1816;  died  July  17,  1839.  Amelia  A.  was 
born  February  17,  1818;  married  William  Bennett,  and  now  re- 
sides on  Salt  Creek,  in  Dewitt  county.  Elizabeth  H.  was  born 
December  i,  18 19;  married  Walter  Roben,  in  Dewitt  county. 
Douglas  B.  was  born  July  6,  1821;  died  September  25,  1844. 
Susan  C.  V.  was  born  February  14,  1828;  married  Emanuel 
Davis,  and  now  lives  near  Decatur.  Parmenas  A.  was  born  Aug. 
31,  1824;  now  lives  in  DeWitt  county.  Sarah  J.  was  born  July  27, 
1827;  died  October  5,  1846.  Joseph  P.  was  born  July  10,  1829,  and 
now  resides  in  Decatur.  Asbarinah  was  born  November  27, 
1827;  died  in  October,  1831.  Gideon  P.  was  born  May  16,  1833; 
now  resides  in  Dewitt  county. 


286  HISTORY    OF    MACON  COUNTY 


JOHN  SMITH  was  born  June  28,  1796,  in  Rutherford  county, 
Tennessee;  where  he  married  Margaret  Wilson,  who  was  born 
at  Guilford  C.  H.,  North  Carolina,  July  25,  1801  .  They  removed 
to  Illinois  about  1S39  or  '30,  and  settled  at  Mt.  Zion,  where  he 
died,  a  few  years  since,  loved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew^  him. 
Of  their  children — 

Mary  J.  was  born  November  10,  1822;  died  at  18.  George 
A.  was  born  April  6,  1825;  died  July  29,  1873;  married  Eliza- 
beth Wilson  and  as  second  wife  Martha  Wilson.  Louisa  C.  was 
born  May  2,  1829;  married  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith.  Candor  R.  was 
born  November  17,  1832;  died  at  13.  Nancy  M.  was  born 
November  20,  1837;  i^^arried  W.  S.  Parr. 

Mrs.  L.  CATHARINE  SMITH  was  born  May  2,  1829, 
in  Windsor  county,  Tennessee,  and  married  Rev.  J.  C.  Smith, 
July  22,   1845,  who  died  January  4,    1872.     Of  their  children — 

M.  R.,  born  April  19,  1S48;  married  Joseph  Wood,  September 
19,  1872.  Z.  L.,  born  August  16,  1851;  died  July  11,  1852.  A.  L. 
born  August  29,  1853.  F.  A.,  born  April  14,  1855;  died  June  28, 
18^8.     L.  L.,  born  October  13,   1866. 

WILLIS  STALLINGS  was  born  in  October,  1807,  in  Smith 
county,  Tenn.,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1832;  married  in 
1830  to  Jane  Law.     Their  children  are — 

James  M.,  who  now  resides  in  Atchison,  Kansas,  Thomas  B. 
and  R.  M.  Hili-,  residing  in  Macon  county. 

DAVID  SMICK  was  born  in  1798,  in  Lincoln  county,  Ky.; 
came  to  this  county  from  Kentucky  in  1834,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided;  was  married  November  5,  1829,  to  Eliza  Ann  Fer- 
I'is,  who  was  born  in  Kent  county,  Va.,  December  6,  1S12,  Of  their 
children — 

Emily  A.  was  born  April  10,  183S;  married  to  Dr.  Carr,  April 
28,  1859,  who  was  born  May  13,  1832,  in  Sussex  county,  N.J. 
They  are  now  living  in  Newburgh,  this  county.  Of  their  chil- 
dren— 

Aura  was  born  May  25,  i860.  David  E.  was  born  March  22, 
1863.  Chas.  W.  was  born  September  5,  1865.  ^Iary  E.  was 
born  November  25,  1867.  Robert  F.  was  born  November  21, 
1S70.     Walter  S.  was  born  July  14,  1874. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  287 

Martha  L.  Smtck  was  born  .     Now  living  in  Decatur. 

Aaron  was  born  December  7,  1840;  married  to  Florence  E. 
Hawkins,  who  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  O.  They  now  reside 
in  the  city  of  Decatur.     Of  their  children — 

Walter  C.  was  born  May  17,  1870.  Mabel  Clare  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1874.     Elmer  was  born  October  22,  1876. 

HENRY  TRAUGHBER  January  9,  1803,  in  Logan  county, 
Ky.;  came  to  Illinois  in  November,  1825;  staid  there  ^until  1829; 
then  came  to  Macon  county,  and  was  married  to  Nancy  Smith, 
who  was  born  in  Tennessee,  and  died  in  August,  1863.  ^^  their 
children — 

Robert  S.,  born  September  2,  1830;  died  February  8,  1863; 
married  Elizabeth  Bell.  DA^■ID,  born  September  2,  1832;  died  in 
infancy.  A.  C,  born  April  3,  1833;  married  V.  C.  Whitehouse. 
E.  M.  E.,  born  about  1843;  married  Wm.  Cox;  dead.  M.  J.  C. 
married  D.  P.  During.  Al.  R.  died  in  1868.  Caroline  married 
Kitt ;  died  in  1874. 

Rev.  DANIEL  TRAUGHBER  was  born  in  Logan  county, 
Kv.,  in  May,  1800,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1837  or  '8,  and  settled  on 
Big  Creek,  in  Mt.  Zion  township.  He  married  Mary  Banks,  in 
Kentucky,  bv  whom  he  had  four  children — 

Elizabeth  married  Robert  Lansden,  Wilson  county,  Kansas. 
Gabrella  married  Robert  Foster,  Wilson  county,  Kansas. 
Henry  married  in  Wilson  county,  Kansas. 

Mr.  T.  married  a  second  time  to  Elizabeth  Foster,  bv  whom  the 
following  children  were  born — 

Cyrus  lives  at  Ottawa,  Kansas. 

Mr.  T.  married  a  third  time  to  Eliza  Smalley,  by  whom  the 
following  children  were  born — 

Mary  A.  married  John  Edwards;  lives  in  Wilson  county,  Kan. 
Daniel  B.;  dead.     Harris  lives  in  Wilson  county,  Kan. 

Mr.  T.  moved  to  Fredonia,  Kan.,  in  1872,  and  now  resides  there. 

JOHN  TRA\"IS  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  i  768,  where  he 
married  Rebecca  Travis,  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1777.  He  died 
in  Wayne  county,  Illinois,  in  1824,  and  Mrs.  T.  in  Macon  county, 
in  1S50.  Their  children  were  Allen,  Thomas,  Finis  and  Harvey, 
mentioned  below. 


288  HISTORY    OF    MACOX    COUNTY. 


ALLEN  TRAVIS  was  born  May  i8,  1789,  in  York  District, 
South  Carolina.  In  1805  his  father  removed  with  the  family  to 
Livingston    county,   Ky.,  where    Allen    was   married,   October   5, 

1820,  to  Margaret  Campbell,  who  was  born  March  5,  1801.  Thev 
removed   to    Wayne    county,   Illinois,    perhaps     in    the   spring   of 

1821,  and  to  Macon  county  in  March,  1829,  in  company  with  his 
brothers  Finis  and  Thomas,  James  D.  Campbell,  Andrew  and 
John  Davidson.  Mrs.  Travis  died  some  five  or  six  years  ago.  Of 
their  children — 

John  B.  was  born  January  9,  1823,  in  Wayne  county,  Illinois. 
James  D.  C.  was  born  March  7,  1825,  in  Wayne  county-,  Illinois. 
Presly  a.  was  born  April  24,  1827,  in  Wayne  county,  Illinois. 
Rebecca  was  born  February  24,  1829,  in  Sangamon  county.  111. 
Wm.  H.  was  born  March  30,  1831,  in  Macon  county.  111.  Eliza- 
beth J.  was  born  May  23,  1834,  in  Macon  county.  III.;  died  Jan- 
uary 5,  1863.  Samuel  H.  was  born  September  14,  1S36,  in 
Macon  county.  111.;  died  January  9,  1S63.  Ulysses  D.  was  born 
March  5, 1839,  in  Macon  county,  111.;  died  April  27,1863.  Mar- 
garet Z.  was  born  February  3,  1841,  in  Macon  county,  Illinois. 
Thomas  C.  was  born  March  23,  1844,  in  Macon  county,  111. 

THOMAS  TRAVIS  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  was 
married  before  removing  to  Illinois,  to  Sarah  Davidson,  and  set- 
tled one  and  a  half  miles  northwest  of  Mt.  Zion, 

FINIS  TRAVIS  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in  1810,  in  what  is  now 
Crittenden  county,  and  was  married  in  1S40  to  Nancy  J.  Foster, 
who  was  then  the  widow  of  Wm.  Foster,  maiden  name  Bell.  She 
died,  and  he  married  a  second  time  to  Nancy  Mahollen.  Both  are 
now  dead. 

HARVEY  TRAVIS  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Illinois,  in 
1823,  and  removed  with  the  family  to  Macon  county  in  1830,  In 
185 1  he  married  Elizabeth  Cox,  who  died  in  1S62,  and  he  married 
a  second  time  to  Harriet  M.  F.  Campbell;  now  resides  in  Decatur. 

WM.  TURFIN  was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Ky.,  in  1809,  and 
came  to  Macon  county  in  1831,  and  settled  on  Big  Creek. 

MATTISON  TURPIN  was  born  in  1813,  and  came  to  Macon 
county  with  his  brother  William. 


HISTORY  OF  MACON  COUNTY.  289 

EDMUND  TURPIN  was  born  in  iSii.  The  two  latter 
brothers  are  still   residents  of  the  county. 

JOHN  WARD,  the  father  of  the  Wards  who  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Macon  county,  was  born  in  England,  in  1769.  He 
emigrated,  when  a  young,  man,  to  South  Carolina,  where  he  mar- 
ried Mary  Ward,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1768.  They  removed 
thence  to  Tennessee,  near  Nashville,  and  remained  a  few  years,  and 
removed  to  Logan  county,  Ky.,  where  Mr.  W.  died  in  181 1.  Mrs. 
W.  and  the  family  remained  in  Logan  county,  Ky.,  until  1S19,  and 
left  in  October  of  that  year,  and  removed  to  within  1 1  miles  of 
Vandalia,  Fayette  county,  Illinois,  where  they  arrived  November 
II.  They  remained  in  the  latter  county  until  1824,  and  then  re- 
moved to  what  is  now  Macon  county,  and  settled  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Sangamon  river,  and  constituted  what  was  known  in  early 
days  as  the  "Ward  settlement."     Of  their  children — 

JERRY  WARD  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  January  27, 
1788.  His  wife  was  Dolly  Derrington,  whom  he  married  in  Logan 
county,  Ky.  He  removed  from  Macon  county  to  Missouri,  and 
thence  to  Texas  in  1832,  where  he  died. 

JOHN  WARD,  Jr.,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1790,  and 
married  Jane  Madol,  in  Logan  county,  Ky.  They  had  a  very 
large  family  of  children,  17,  perhaps,  in  all.  Mr.  W.  died  in  1831, 
and  is  buried  at  Walnut  Grove.  Of  such  of  their  children  as  we 
can  obtain  the  names  of — 

Margaret  (see  Perdue.)  Mary  died  in  Fayette  county. 
John,  Jr.,  2d,  died  in  Fayette  county.  Sarah  married  Moses 
Turner;  died  in  the  poor  house.  Aaron  and  Joseph,  twins; 
Aaron  died  in  Fayette  county ;  Joseph,  dead.  Lucinda  married 
Isaac  Miller,  and  has  children  living  here.  Nancy  married  Nat'l. 
Murphy;  now  resides  in  Missouri.  Martha  died  of  cholera  in 
1832. 

JAMES  WARD  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1792,  and  was 
married  in  Logan  county,  Ky.,  to  Elizabeth  Freeman;  removed 
from  Illinois  to  Missouri,  and  thence  to  Texas,  where  both  died. 
They  had  six  children,  none  of  whom  now  reside  here. 


—37 


290  HISTORY    OF    MACON     COUNTY. 

SARAH  WARD  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  in  1794.  She 
married  Wm.  Gambrel,  in  Logan  county,  Ky.;  removed  to  IIH- 
nois,  thence  back  to  Kentucky,  thence  to  Missouri,  thence  to  Texas, 
where  she  died. 

MARGARET  WARD  was  born  in  South  CaroHna,  in  1796, 
and  married  in  Kentucky  to  Elisha  Freeman,  who  was  one  of  the 
first  county  commissioners  of  this  county.  They  raised  a  large 
family  of  children.  Mr.  F.  died  in  1858,  and  Mrs.  F.  in  1873. 
Their  children  were :  Polly,  William,  James,  John,  Jerry,  Andrew, 
Thomas,  Albert  and  Henry. 

POLLY  WARD  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1798,  and  mar- 
ried Wm.  Freeman,  and  now  resides  in   Missouri. 

LUCY  WARD  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1819,  and  married  Hiram  Reavis.  They  removed  to  Mis- 
souri in  1832,  and  now  reside  in  Vernon  county. 

WILLIAM  WARD  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1802,  and 
came  to  Illlinois  in  18 19,  and  lived  here  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  died,  and  was  the  father  of  Franklin,  Hiram  and  John  Ward, 
who  still  reside  here. 

THOMAS  WARD  was  born  in  1804,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1818;  married  Elizabeth  Widick,  daughter  of  Jacob  Widick. 
They  had  seven  childi*en,  most  of  whom  reside  in  Christian  coun- 
ty, where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  died. 

NANCY  WARD  was  born  in  1806,  and  married  Lambert  S. 
Beai-den,  at  Vandalia,  Illinois,  and  moved  to  Macon  county  in  1823, 
and  removed  to  Missouri  in  1832,  where  their  children  now  reside. 

LEWIS  B.  WARD  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ky,,  January 
17,  1809,  and  i"emoved  to  Illinois  in  1819,  and  to  Macon  county  in 
1824.  On  the  23d  of  December,  1830,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Walker,  who  was  born  September  8,  1813,  in  Rutherford  county, 
Tenn.,  and  became  a  resident  of  Macon  county  in  1829;  died  June 
7,  1852.     Of  their  children — 

Alfred  was  born  October  16,  1831.  Mary  J.  was  born  No- 
vember 18,  1833;  married  S.  B.  N.  Vaughan.  Elizabeth  was 
born  March  13,  1836;  married  Woodson  Parker.  Robert  was 
born  June   13,  1S38.     Caroline  was  born   November    14,   1840; 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  29I 

married  J.  B.  Moore.  Harriet  was  born  November  26,  1844. 
Rebecca  was  born  November  29,  1846.  Lewis  J.  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1848.  Nancy  A.  was  born  May  15,  1852;  died  Septem- 
ber 28,  1853. 

Mr.  Ward  was  married  a  second  time  to  Matilda  Parker,  who 
was  born  August  14,  1832.  He  sold  his  farm  in  Macon  county  in 
the  fall  of  1876,  and  removed  to  Girard,  Kansas,  prior  to  which  he 
was  the  second  settler,  in  point  of  arrival,  residing  in  the  county. 
From  him  we  derived  most  of  our  information  in  reference  to 
the  Ward  family  and  Ward  settlement.  He  fixes  the  dates 
of  the  erection  of  the  first  houses  in  the  county  in  the  follow- 
ing order:  1st,  William  Downing's,  south  of  Sangamon;  2d, 
Leonai'd  Stevens',  on  Stevens'  creek;  3d,  Abraham  Sprague's,  just 
south  of  fair-ground;  4th,  Hubble  Sprague's,  on  the  inside  of  the 
present  fair-ground  inclosure;  5th,  William  King's,  a  short  distance 
south  of  the  fair-grounds.  Mr.  Ward  says  the  first  mill  in  Macon 
countv  was  on  Stevens'  creek,  and  was  built  by  William  King  in 
1826,  which  was  afterwards  owned  by  and  known  as  Renshaw's 
mill;  also,  that  the  first  house  in  the  limits  of  the  old  town  of  De- 
catur was  just  north  of  Priest's  Hotel,  and  was  built  by  Reuben 
Miller,  who  sold  out  to  James  Renshaw,  in  which  the  first  store 
was  kept.  He  also  states  that  the  first  school  house  in  the  county 
was  on  the  old  Wictick  place,  now  owned  by  P.  M.  WickofF,  three 
and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  Decatur,  and  was  erected  in  1825, 
and  the  first  school  teacher  was  "Frozen"  Taylor;  and  that  the 
second  school  house  was  on  land  now  owned  by  W.  C.  Smith, 
erected  in  182S,  in  which  one  Nelson,  "a  little  Yankee,"  taught. 
At  this  school  house  Abi'aham  Lincoln  went  to  singings  and  spell- 
ings. In  the  spring  of  1826  Mr.  W.  raised  1,800  pounds  of  cotton 
in  Macon  county. 

HIRAM  WARD  was  born  in  Macon  county,  Illinois,  January 
28,  1837;  was  married  to  Clara  E.  Odor,  March  11,  1858,  who 
was  born  in  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  January  7,  1843,  and  came 
to  this  county  in  1850.     Of  their  children — 

La  VENA  E.  was  born  June  20,  i860,  and  died  July  24,  1861. 
Hattie  Beli.  was  born  March  10,  1863,  and  died  July  30,  1864. 
-Laura  A.  was  born  December  27,  1864.  Eva  May  was  born 
May  17,  1867.  Frank  Nelson  was  born  February  7,  1869.  Mir- 


292  HISTORY  OF   MACON    COUNTY. 


TIE  LuELi.A  was  born  April  6,  1871;  died  August  30,  1872.  In- 
fant son  was  born  December  29,  1872;  died  January  16,  '73.  Sarah 
Elizabeth  was  born  February  8,  1874. 

ROBERT  WILSON  was  born  October  ^,1779,  in  Mecklen- 
burg county,  North  Carolina,  and  moved  to  Murray  county,  Tenn., 
when  about  18  years  old.  He  moved  thence  to  Wilson  county, 
Tenn.,  where  he  married  Jane  Donald,  who  died  in  1829.  Of 
their  seven  children — 

Thomas  F.  was  born  July  26,  181 3;  died  August  29,  '35.  Mary 
B.  was  born  June  14,  18 15;  died  August  17,  '39.  Nancy  E.  was 
born  September  28,  181 7;  died  April  6,  '34.  Sarah  G.  was  born 
November  i,  1S19;  died  November  i,'52.     William  A.  was  born 

August  22,  1822.     Martha  J.  was  born  June  10,  1825;  died ^, 

1850.     Cyntha  E,  was  born  July  9,  1828;  died  ,  1846. 

Mr.  Wilson's  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Sallie  Hodge,  widow  of  Jo- 
seph H.  Hodge,  and  who  was  born  April  26,  1792,  in  Orange  coun- 
ty, North  Carolina.  By  her  first  husband  the  following  children 
were  born : — 

Henry  J.  Hodge,  born  March  11,  1813;  died  August  30,  1838; 
married  P.  Traughber.  Talitha  J.  Hodge,  born  December  9,  1814; 
married  N.  N.  Baker.  Arraanna  H.,  born  June  25,  1816;  married 
J.  M.  Baker.  Margaret  C,  born  February  i,  1819;  died  — ,  1864; 
married  John  Hanson.  Joseph  J.,  born  February  10,  1822;  died 
September  7,  1872;  married  M.  A.  Ferriss.  Eli  L.,  born  October 
24,  1824;  died  March  26,  1849.. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Wilson  and  Mrs.  Hodge,  in  1829,  they 
removed  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and  came  to  Macon  county 
in  1830,  whei'e  Mr.  W.  died,  March'4,  1873,  and  Mrs.  W.January 
20,  1872.     By  the  last  marriage  there  were  three  children — 

Robert  D.  was  born  October  18,  1830;  married  Mary  Outten. 
Sarah  A.  was  born  January  5,  1833;  married  John  H.  Davidson. 
James  A.  was  born  September  5,  1S35;  married  Sarah  Jones. 

D.  K.  WILSON  was  born  March  27,  1825,  in  Rutherford  coun- 
ty, Tennessee;  came  to  Macon  county  in  1835,  and  was  married  to 
Mary  J.  Dickey,  February  25,  1845,  who  was  born  July  31,  1827, 
in  Florence,  Alabama,  and  came  to  Macon  county  in  1S29.  Of 
their  children — 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  293 


Samuel  was  born.  April  17,  1S46;  was  married  to  Eveline  Dres- 
back  in  September,  1S6S,  and  died  January,  1877.  Margaret  C. 
was  born  December  17,  1S47;  was  married  to  S.  B.  Betz  in  March, 
1869.  Eliza  J.  was  born  October  8,  1849;  died  April  16,  1866. 
Andrew  was  born  September  i,  1S51;  was  married  to  Ella  Bun- 
dy  April  13,  1S75,  who  was  born  April  36,  1S59,  in  Piqua  county, 
Ohio;  came  to  this  county  in  1875,  and  died  December  15,  1876. 
Sarah  A.  was  born  October  25,  1852;  was  married  to  R.J.  Ross 
December  9,  1874.  Mary  E.  was  born  January  17,  1858;  was 
married  to  Marian  Ranabarger,  February  27,  1876.  Zaritha  M. 
was  born  December  3,  1859.  William  A.  was  born  December  8, 
1862.  John  W.  was  born  April  27,  1865;  died  September  17,  '67. 
George  W.  was  born  July  28,  1868. 

BENJAMIN  WILSON  was  among  the  early  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Macon  county,  and  came  here  in  1837,  and  was  one  of 
the  county  commissioners  who  assisted  in  the  county  organization. 
He  held  the  position  for  a  great  many  years.  He  was  born  at  Guil- 
ford Court  House,  in  North  Carolina,  and  removed  thence  to  Ten- 
nessee, and  afterwards  to  Illinois.  He  married  Jane  Warnick 
in  the  state  of  Tennessee,  who  was  a  sister  of  "Uncle  Billy"  War- 
nick,  the  first  sheriff  of  the  county.  Their  children  were,  Polly, 
(see  Sanders,)  Rachel,  (see  Hill,)  Peggy  Smith,  (see  John  Smith,) 
Robert,  Nancy,  Hannah,  (see  Blankenship,)  and — 

John  Wilson  w^as  born  in  Rutherford  county,  Tennessee,  in 
1813,  came  to  Illinois  in  1828,  and  was  married  to  Nancy  Wilson, 
March  i,  1832,  who  was  born  July  6,  1813,  in  Greene  county,  Ten- 
nessee, and  became  a  resident  of  Macon  county  about  1S30,  Of 
their  Children — 

Benjamin  T.  was  born  August  19,  1836;  died  February  5,  1854. 
Mary  A.  was  born  October  23, 1833,  and  married  Joseph  M.Daw- 
son, who  was  born  April  5,  1828.     Of  their  children — 

John  A.  was  born  July  8,  1853.  Thomas  M.  was  born  April  6, 
1855.  Nancy  A.  was  born  January  19,  1857;  ^'^^^  December  29, 
1857.  Luella  B.  was  born  August  4,  1859.  C.  E.  was  born  Janu- 
ary 18,  1863.  Edwin  P.  was  born  December  17,  1864.  Oscar  W. 
was  born  April  26,  1867. 

ANDREW  WILSON  was  born  March  3,  1785,  and  was  mar- 
ried  to   Mary  Ann  Wilson,  who   was  born  January   30,    1788. 


294  HISTORY  OF   MACON  COUNTY. 


They  removed  from  East  Tennessee  to  Macon  county  about  1830. 
Mr.  W.  died  August  10,  '44,  and  Mrs.  W.  September  17,  '72.  Of 
their  children — 

Thomas  B.  was  born  July  26,  1807;  died  July,  '73.  Alexan- 
der  M.  was  born   May   6,   1809.     Eliza  D.  was  born   April  15, 

1811;  died  September    13,  '15.     Katharine  was  born  21, 

1 816;  died  January  7,  '55.  John  A.  was  born  January  9,  18 19; 
died  December  18, '21.  James  J.  was  born  November  12,  1822; 
died  April  28,  '54. 

WILLIAM  WHEELER,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Virginia  about 
1790,  and  married  Elizabeth  Hays,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
State.  Mrs.  W.  died  about  1836,  and  Mr.  W.  in  1866.  Their 
children  were,  James,  Stacy,  Henry,  William,  jr.,  Elizabeth,  Ra- 
liegh.  Burton,  Larkin  and  Nathaniel.  Mr.  Wheeler  and  family 
removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Macon  county,  in  1828. 

James  Wheeler  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1799,  and  died 
in  1867.     His  wife  was  Margaret  Mayberry. 

Stacy  Wheeler  was  born  about  1800,  and  married  William 
Christopher,  and  died  about  1S31. 

Henry  Wheeler  was  born  in  1801,  in  Tennessee,  and  was 
married  in  Tennessee  to  Mary  Y.  Braden,  who  was  born  January 
4,  1800.     Of  their  five  children — 

Elizabeth  E.  was  born  May  7,  1826;  married  David  Brett;  died 
1864.  Samuel  R.  was  born  August  16,  1827;  married  Jamima 
Abrams,  who  was  born  in  1828,  in  Illinois.  William  E.  was  born 
October  23,  1828;  married  Ellen  Frazee;  he  died  1875.  Nancy  J. 
was  born  January  9,  1830;  inarried  Samuel  Woodward,  first  hus- 
band; Mason  Packard,  second  husband;  no\y  resides  in  California. 
Andrew  J.  was'born  January  16,  1832;  married  N.  E.  Cox,  who 
was  born  in  Scott  county,  Illinois,  1837. 

William  Wheeler,  Jr.,  was  born  on  the  28th  of  Dec,  1809, 
in  Rutherford  county, Tennessee;  was  married  Oct  27,  1 831,  to  Sarah 
A.  Ward,  (daughter  of  Jerry  Ward,)  who  died  in  August,  1869. 
Mr.  Wheeler  has  been  prominently  connected  with  the  affairs  of 
the  county,  and  has  been  repeatedly  elected  sheriff,  assessor  and 
collector.     Of  their  10  children,  but  two  are  living,  viz: — 

Mary  E.,  who  married  Thomas  Inscho,  now  resides  in  San  Jose, 
California;  and  Lewis  Cass.     Andrew  M.  died  in  '69;  Calvin  R. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  295 

died  in  '6i;  Lucinda  K.  died  in  '63;  William  L.  died  in  ^66;  Hen- 
rietta died  in  '62;  James  C.  died  in  '51 ;  Thomas  B.  died  in  infancy, 
and  Alice  died  in  1S74. 

Elizabeth  Wheeler  was  born  in  1811,  and  married  William 
Ward,  the  father  of  Franklin  and  Hiram  Ward,  well  known  in 
the  county. 

Raleigh  Wheeler  was  born  in  1S13,  and  died  in  1834;  his 
first  wife  was  Rebecca  Travis,  and  second  Mary  Fields. 

Burton  Wheeler  was  born  in  1S15,  and  resides  in  Moultrie 
county,  Illinois. 

Larkin  Wheeler  was  born  in  1817;  died  in  1S38. 

Nathaniel  Wheeler  was  born  in  1819;  died  when  young. 

IRA  WARNICK  was  born  in  Tennessee,  August  7,  1823;  he 
moved  to  this  county  in  1825,  and  settled  at  the  place  afterwards 
known  as  the  William  Warnick  place,  and  has  ever  since  resided 
in  this  county;  was  married  to  Julietta  Friscila  Burke,  April  17, 
1843,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky,  June  30,  1822,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  1840.     Of  their  nine  children   all  of  which  are  now  liv- 


James  W.  was  born  April  11,  1844,  ^'""^^  married  Ann  E.  Ste- 
vens, September  14,  1869.  Elizabeth  E.  was  born  May  10,  1846; 
and  married  Edward  Hill.  Arthusa  D.  was  born  August  6, 1848. 
Thomas  T.  was  born  December  3P,  1851,  and  was  married  to 
Mary  E.  Lynch,  in  February,  1874.  Nancy  C.  was  born  Febru- 
ary 18,  1853,  and  married  S.  P.  Falconer,  September  18,  1873. 
Major  M.  was  born  March  13,  1855.  Henriette  L.  was  born 
December  10,  1857.  Julietta  A.  was  born  September  27,  i860. 
Ira  G.  was  born  March  7,  1864. 

WM.  WARNICK,  was  born  in    1784,  in    North  Carolina,  and 

married ,  who  was  born  the  same  year.     He  removed  from 

North  Carolina  to  Rutherford  county,  Tennessee,  and  thence  to 
this  county,  in  1825.  He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Macon  county 
after  its  organization,  and  held  the  ofiice  from  1829  to  1835,  and 
was  also  re-elected  again  for  two  years,  in  1840.  He  was  in 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  participated  in  the  famous  Stillman's 
defeat,  where  he  received  a  slight  flesh  wound.  He  was  also  cap- 
tain of  the   rangers,  during  the  same  difficulty.     It  was  Mr.  W. 


296  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 

who,  as  sheriff  of  the  county,  whipped  Redmon  and  Wyatt,  by 
order  of  the  court,  giving-  them  39  hishes  apiece.  Tliis  was  the 
only  punishment  of  tlie  kind  ever  inflicted  in  the  county.  Mr.  W's 
father,  James  Warnick,  was  from  Ireland,  landing  in  New  Castle, 
August  15,  1758.     Their  children  were — 

John,  Margaret,  Polly  (first  wife  of  Joseph  Stevens),  Jas., 
LuciNDA,  Betsy  (married  John  Taylor),  Clark,  Ira,  Robert, 
Sarah  (married  Benj.  Taylor;  now  dead.)  Mr.  W.  died  Febru- 
ary 12,  1S55. 

LAVINA  WILLIAMS,  daughter  of  J.  D.  Long,  was  born 
December  26,  1826,  and  married  Jackson  Williams,  who  was 
born  December  4,  1826.     Of  their  children — 

Lafayette  was  born  July  17,  1852;  died  1873.  Jerome  was 
born  August  21,  1854;  died  1856.  Walter  L.  was  born  Febru- 
ary 26,  1856.  Laura  M.  was  born  September  12,  1857.  Joseph 
W.  was  born  November  6,  1859.  Mary  C.  was  born  May  11, 
1861.  Edward  was  born  August  25,  1864.  Jasper  was  born 
January  2,  1867.     Effie  was  born  March  12,  1S69. 

EMANUEL  WIDICK  was  born  February  2,  1806,  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Macon  county,  in  1826. 
He  married  Sarah  A.  Cox,  who  was  born  May  23,  1811.  Mr.  W. 
died  March  4,  1863,  and  Mrs.  W.  died  December  10,  1863.  Of 
their  children — 

Albert  was  boro  September  3,  1835.  William  was  born 
August  8,  1837;  died  March  i,  1845.  Margaret  C.  was  born 
May  5,  1838;  died  November  2,  1853.  John  was  born  February 
2,    1840.     Andrew   was  born    March   27,    1842.      Ephriam  was 

born ,  1844.     Mary  A,  E.  was  born   May  6.  1847.     Eliza 

J,  and  Aaron  were  born  April  21,  1850. 

JOHN  WIDICK  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia, 
and  removed  to  Macon  county,  in  1826.  He  married  Cohorine 
Traughber;  but  what  was  the  date  of  the  births  and  deaths  of 
each  we  cannot  ascertain.  Mrs.  W.  died  perhaps,  about  November 
I,  1832.     Their  children  were — 

William,  Margaret  (See  McDaniel  ),  Emanuel  (dead), 
Michael,  Elizabeth  (married  Lemuel  Walker),  Rial  (of  Ho- 
mer, Iowa),  Aaron  (dead),  Eli  (Saxton  Station,  Mo.),  Edmund 
(Moultrie  county),  Henry  and  Josiah. 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY.  297 

Henry  Widick  was  born  September  30,  1828,  in  Macon  coun- 
ty, and  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Mathews,  October  30,  1850,  who 
was  born  May  2,  1833.     Of  their  children — 

Wm.  H.,  born  July  14,  1852.  Sarah  E.,  born  June  8,  1854. 
Laura  E.,  born  August  9,  1S56,  Arminda  E.,  born  August  4, 
1859.  Lavena  A.,  born  October  13,  1863.  Ida  M.,  born  July  29, 
1867.     George  C,  born  August  23,  1872;  died  September  7,  1874. 

Samuel,  Jacob,  George  and  Joseph  Widick  were  all  broth- 
ers of  John  Widick,  above  mentioned,  and  removed  to  this  county 
in  1825,  at  least  the  former  and  latter  did.  Joseph  settled  at  the 
old  Caulk  place,  recently  purchased  by  P.  M.  WykofF,  Samuel 
on  the  old  Wm.  Young  place  and  Jacob  the  place  where  Robert 
H.  Smith  now  resides.  Joseph  was  accidentally  killed  by  falling 
on  a  pitchfork,  and  Samuel  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  during  the 
late  war. 


Note.— The  following  were  omitted  in  their  proper  places  in  this  chapter. 

HENRY  PRATHER  was  born  November  26,  1802,  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Maryland,  and  removed  to  this  state  in  1836,  and 
settled  in  Macoupin  county.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Ratcliff, 
whom  he  married  before  leaving  Maryland,  who  died  in  Macoupin 
county.  He  came  to  Macon  county  in  1837,  and  in  1838  married 
*Amanda  Oglesby,  who  still  resides  in  Decatur.  He  was  killed 
accidently  by  being  thrown  from  a  buggy  in  1869.  He  was  an 
honest,  upright  citizen,  prominently  connected  with  all  the  public 
enterprises  tending  to  advance  the  interests  of  Macon  county  and 
the  city  of  Decatur.  He  was  public  spirited,  and  nothing  calcula- 
ted to  advance  the  material  prosperity  of  the  city  or  county  es- 
caped his  earnest  solicitation  and  support  in  both  means  and  influ- 
ence. He  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  1852.  He  left  no 
children.  A  fond  recollection  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  with 
whom  he  associated  will  last  during  their  lives. 

DAVID  FLORY  was  born  in  1803,  in  Virginia.  Came  to 
Illinois  in  1825,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Macon  county.     Came 

*  See  Oglesby. 


298  HISTORY    OF    MACOX  COUNTY. 

with  Draper,  P.  D.  Williams  and  Epperson.  Was  married  to 
Isabella  Wright,  who  was  born  in  Virginia.  One  child  was 
born  of  this  marriage — Jerome,  who  was  born  in  1838,  now  re- 
sides in  Macon  county.  Was  married  a  second  time  to  Rachael 
RiTTENHOUSE,  who  was  born  in  1S26.     Of  their  children — 

J.    W.   was    born    in    1850,     Mellissa  J.    was    born    in    1858. 
Franklin  was  born  in  1862. 


ERRATA 


On  page  26,  line  6,  read  12  for  "  8." 

"  •'  26,  read  Leonard  for  "  Buel  "  Stevens. 

"  "  31,  Note,  read  46  for  "  36." 

"  "  50,  last  line  but  one,  read  1834  to  '40. 

"  "  57,  2d  line,  read  1863  for  "  1853." 

"  '•  92,  for  "  Sam'l  A.  McDonald,  deserted,"  read,  discharged  on  account  of  sickness. 

"  "  171,  for  "  which  they  have  all  accomplished,"  read,  what  they  have  all  accom- 
plished. 

"  "  182,  for  "Old  School  or  Presbyterian,"  read,  Old  School  or  Predestinarian. 

"  "  240,  read,  these  for  "  them,"  and  them  for  "  these,"  in  the  line  following. 

"  "  241,  for  "  set "  at  these  desks,  read,  sit,  &c. 

"  "  244,  for  S.  P.  "  Mickey,"  read,  S.  P.  Nickey. 

"  "  285  \  3,  for  James  "  M,"  read,  James  W. 


INDEX.  299 


INDEX. 


A 

PAGE. 

Austin,  B.  R 55-246 

Austin,  Wni.  A 246 

Austin,  Jesse 247 

Allen,  S.  C 55-248 

Agriculture 211 

Argenta 232 

Abiams,  Josiah 247 

Allen, D.L 247 

B 

Boai'd  of  Supervisors 37 

Biograpliies  of  County  oflicers 49 

Benedict,  K 49-50-250 

Bear.JohnW 53 

Boyd,  Wm.  M 55 

Buckingham 56 

Bunn,  D.  L 56 

Barnes,  W.  A 57 

Brown,  J.  A 57 

Black  Hawk 58 

Black  Hawk  War 38 

Black  Hawk  War,  Enlistments  in 59 

Baker,  E.  D 61 

Baptist  Church 181 

Baptist,  Separate 181 

Baptist,  Predestinarian 182 

Boyd,  Haskell  &  Co 199 

Blue  Mound 231 

Boody :   232 

Bell,  Alexander 248 

Braden,  Samuel 248 

Braden,  J.  T 249 

Blankenship,  John  L 249 

Baker,  Newton 249 

Baker,  Wm.  1) 250 

Baker,  James  M  250 

Brett,  Richard    251 

Barnwell,  David 251 

Burke,  Micajah 252 

C 

Crozat,  M.  13 

Company  of  West 13 

Company  Royal  of  1 13 

Crittenden,  John  and  Wm 14 

CoUimhia's  Review 16 

County  Seat 22 


300 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


PAGE. 

Clinton  29 

County  Officers 35 

County  Commissioners'  Court 35-36 

County  Court 36 

County  Clerks 45-52 

County  Treasurers 45 

Circuit  Judges 43 

Circuit  Clerks 45-50 

Circuit  Courts 47 

Court  Days,  166 

jCantrall.Wm 55-252 

Curtis,  IraB 55-254 

Cavalry,  7tli  111 64 

Cavalry,  7th  111.,  Enlistments  in 67 

Cliaracteristics  of  Early  Settlers 154 

Churches 171 

Circuit  Rider 174 

Cumberland  P.  Church 178 

Oliristian  Church    179 

Church  of  God 182 

Catholic  Cliurch 183 

Chambers,  Behring  &  Co 198 

Cox,  Ephraim 252 

Cox,  Wm 254 

Crissey,  W.  S 253 

Carter,  E.  D 253 

Campbell,  J.  D 253 

Caulk,  Jacob 254 

D 

Decatur  laid  out 23 

Decatur,  County  Seat 22 

Decatur,  first  sale  of  lots 23 

Decatur  Public  Library 187 

Decatur  Furniture  Company 191 

Decatur  Bagging  Company 193 

Decatur,  City  of 216 

Decatur,  Stephen 216 

Decatur,  first  Buildings  in 220 

Decatur,  Trustees  of 221 

Decatur  City  Council 222 

Davis,  D !. 55-255 

Deep  Snow 144 

Deer  Huntings 165 

DeWitt  County,  Settlement  of 28 

Dickey,  Wm.,  Sr 255 

Dickey,  John 256 

Dickey,  William,  Jr 256 

Dickey,  Alexander 256 

Dickey,  Harvey 256 

Dickey,  David 256 

Davidson,  Samuel •. 257 

E 

Emmerson,  Charles 49-50-258 

Elwood  &  Co 203 

Edward,  James 257 


INDEX.  301 

F 

PAGE. 

Forstmeyer,  M 54 

Fox  Hunting 165 

Ferris  &  Emmons 203 

Fire  Department 226 

Forsytli 232 

Falconer 261 

Flory 297 


Grand  Jury,  1st,  2d 47 

Green, S.L 50 

Gorin,H.  M ..     50 

Goodman,  George 53 

Good  Templars 187 

Greenfield,  Bell  &  Co 202 

Gorin 261 

H 

Hennepin 12 

Hammer,  W.  L 51 

Hale.  E.  B 52 

Hostetler,  .Joseph - 55 

High  Water 153 

Hard  Trials 157 

House-Raisings 166 

Haworth  &  Sons 195 

Hill,H.  W.  &Co 197 

Harpstrite  &  Schlandeman  202 

Harristown 232 

Hostetler    261 

Herrell,  .James 262 

Hanks,  John 262 

Howell 262 

Hefton 263 

Hamilton,  Andrew .264 

Huston,  W 264 

Hornback 265 


Illinois,  Discovery  of H 

Illinois,  Government  of 13 

Illinois,  Settlement  of 12 

Infantry,  8  111 71 

Infantry.  8  111,  Roster 72,  73 

Infantry,  8  111.,  Enlistments  in 74 

Infantry,  8  111 Co.  A.  74,  Co.  B.  76 

Infantry,  21  111.,  Roster 80 

Infantry,  21  111.,  Enlistments  Co.  A  82,  Co.  K  84 

Infantry,  35  111 84,  Co.  A  86 

Infantry.  41  111., Roster  87,  Co.  A  88,  Co.  B  92,  Co.  E  93,  Co.  F  96,  Co.  H  97.  Co.  I  67 

Infantry ,  68  111 Roster  99,  Co.  H  lOo 

Infantry,  115  111 103,  Roster  105,  Co.  A  IO6,  Co.  E  106,  Co.  F  108,  Co.  H  109,  Co.  K  110 

Infantry,  116  111 110,  Roster  11.3,  Co.  A  114,  Co.  B  118,  Co.  C  121,  Co.  D  12,'5,  Co.  E  129 

Infantry,  116  111 Co.  F  133,  Co.  G  133,  Co.  H  136,  Co.  1 137,  Co.  K  140 

Indians 10 


302 


HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


J 

Joliett,  M 11 

Judge  of  Circuit  Court 43 

Judge  of  County  Court 43,  49 

Judge  Probate  Court 43 

Jones,  John  E 54 

Jennings,  J.  D 54 

Jolanson,  James 55 

Johnson,  John 265 

K 

Kramer  &  McClelland 250 

King,  Dr 265 

L 

Laswell 12 

License 24 

Loeb,  Peter 200 

Laymons 266 

Lapham 266 

Law 267 

Lowry » 267 

Lincoln 279 

M 

Memorial  Lines *< 

Marquette H-  13 

Macon,  Nath 17 

Masters  in  Chancery 43 

McCall,D 49 

McClellan,  E  62,53 

McMennamy,  Jno 53,  269 

Murray,  A.  A 

Miller,  John 55 

McComas,  C.  C 56 

Mexican  War 61 

Mexican  War,  Enlistments  in 61 

Meteorological 147 

M.  E.  Church 175 

Masonic  Organizations 184 

Manufactories 189 

Macon  County,  Organization 17 

Macon  County,  Act  to  Establish 18 

Macon  County,  Boundaries  21 

Macon  County— General  Remarks 24 

Macon  County,  Its  Settlement 26 

Mails  167 

Mueller.H.  &  Co 200 

Maroa 227 

Macon.  City  of ...229 

Mt.  Zion 232 

Morris,  Cornelius 253 

McDaniel 276-269 

Miller 268 

Muirhead 269 

McKinley 270 

Montgomei-y 270 

Myers 270 


INDEX. 


303 


N 

NaviKiition  of  Saiigainou 164 

Nlantic 231 

Nelins 272 

o 

Odor.J.Q.A 51 

Oglesby,  W.  W 52 

Oglesby,  R.  J 272 

Odd  Fellows  Organizations..  185 

Oreana 232 

Oakley 

P 

Piatt  County,  Settlement  of 27 

Prather,  Wm 50-51 

Pratliev,  Henry 297 

Peddieord,  N.  W 51-274 

Peddicord,  J.J , 274 

Powers,  Geo 55-267 

Pugh,  I.  C 55,35,57.59,275 

Parks,  R.H 56 

Pioneer  Preacher 172 

Pioneer  Circuit  Kider 172 

Presbyterian  Church , 176 

Presbyterian  Cumberland  Church 178 

Protestant   Episcopal 183 

Priest  &  Co.  Geo 202 

Purdeu 273 

Pound 274 

Pope 274 

Post  275 

R 

Read,  T.  H 50-55-276 

Ricketts,  John 50 

Rea,  Samuel 52-53-277 

Rea,  James — 277 

Renshaw,  James 55-277 

Retrospect,  a 161 

Roberts,  Lyttle  &  Co 146 

Railroads,  204  ;  Wabash.  206  ;  Illinois  Central,  207  ;  D.  &  E.  St.  Louis,  209  ;  D.  &  St.  L.,  209  : 
P.,  Q.  &  D.,209;  D.  M.  C,  210  ;  D.,  S.  &  M.,  210  ;  Q.  M.,  210  ;  I..  D.  &  S  ,  210 

Rose 277 

Robin.son 278 

Rucker 278 

S 

Slavery  in  Illinois 13 

St.  Clair,  A 14 

Settlements  of  County,  "When  Made 29 

Settlements  of  County,  How  Retarded 30-31-32 

Supervisors'  Courts 37 

State's  Attorney 43 

Sheriffs 45 

Spear,  John  G 50 

Stevens,  Jas 53 

Stevens,  Jos. 56 


304  HISTORY    OF    MACON    COUNTY. 


PAGE. 

Snyder,  H 55 

Sudden  Freeze  and  Change " 146 

Sangamon  Navigation 164 

Stages  169 

Sawyer,  W.  &  B 198 

Sliellaboyer,  D.  S.  &  Co ...201 

Sangamon • 232 

Schools 233 

School  Teacher,  Ye  Okie 234 

School  Houses 240 

School  Statistics  244 

Sanders 278 

Spangler 280 

Scott 281 

Stevens 282 

Smith  284-286 

Smallwood 285 

Stallings 286 

Smick 286 

T 

Tonti,  M 13 

Todd,  John 14 

Taxation,  Rate  of  in  1829 24 

Tavern  Rates  in  1829 24 

Travis,  Jas 54-287 

Thompson,  M.  B 56 

Tait 281 

Traughber 287 

Turpiu 288 

U 

United  Bretheren  Church 180 

Universalist  Church 182 

Union  Iron  Works    192 

W 

Waggoner,  W.  W 53 

Warnick,  Wm 53-295 

Wheeler,  Wm... 63-294 

Whitehouse,  S.  M 53 

Wood,  G.  M  54 

War,  Black  Hawk 58 

War,  Mexican 61 

War,  Late 64 

Water,  High 153 

Wayne  Bros 201 

Water  Works 225 

Wairensburg ,  232 

Wheatland  '. 232 

Ward  289-290-291 

Wilson 292-293 

Williams 296 

Widick 296-297 


